December 2020
Joe Biden is set to inherit a generational wealth gap that may shake the very foundations of capitalism. While Boomer's wealth continues to accumulate, Millennials just can't get a foothold, and this large, influential generation may be demanding a radical redistribution of capital as they age. (Bloomberg)
Nearly three-quarters of Gen Xers believe they will need to delay retirement due to the financial assistance they provide their aging parents, underscoring yet again their nickname of the “sandwich generation.” However, as the children of less financially prepared Baby Boomers, Millennials may well end up playing a similar role: Over half of them also believe they will need to delay retirement for the same reason. (GoHealth)
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the health insurance market as consumers are deferring non-essential care. One side effect of this is that people are becoming more savvy shoppers, particularly Millennials and Gen Z who are more likely than older generations to do research on healthcare costs. These younger generations, as always, do their homework. (TransUnion Healthcare)
Research shows that the Silent Generation is faring the best with regards to their mental health during the pandemic, but it would be unwise to simply say that the elderly are more robust. A rough childhood has indeed instilled in this cohort a sense of community and duty, however their dated attitude towards mental health also certainly plays a role in their surveyed responses. (NBC)
Despite Millennials and Gen Z being overall more liberal, the president of the College Democrats has grown concerned about the disconnect between these generations and the political establishment. Young leaders from across the political spectrum urge both parties to make space for the next generation’s policies and platforms, or risk losing these young voters entirely. (Politico)
Is this the end of college as we know it? As younger Americans grow disillusioned with the costs of a four-year college degree, companies have begun to launch other credential models that threaten higher-education’s monopoly. Hiring managers are onboard: They are looking for wider applicant pools with non-college credentials and certifications that would make a prospective hire successful. (The Wall Street Journal)
COVID-19 has prompted unprecedented rates of digital adoption among Baby Boomers, and 88% agree that they will continue to use digital technology in their daily lives after the pandemic. However, these changes do not seem to extend to the office – more than half of this generation of workaholics say they still prefer doing business in-person, compared to less than a third of non-Boomers. (Mobiquity)
Young Americans across the country showed up to vote in much higher numbers this election, particularly in college towns, where Democrats’ lead over the GOP grew by 5 percentage points since 2016. Despite supporting more progressive candidates during the Democratic primaries, these younger Millennials and Gen Z were critical to Biden’s victory in battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. (The Wall Street Journal)