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As housing costs continue to rise in urban centers worldwide, policymakers and activists frequently turn to rent control as a solution to affordability crises. While these policies aim to protect tenants from sudden rent hikes, decades of economic research and real-world case studies reveal that rent control often exacerbates housing shortages, distorts market dynamics, and fails to achieve its intended goals. This article examines the structural inefficiencies of rent control through historical examples, demonstrating how such policies frequently harm the very populations they intend to help.