Baby-boomers are loaded. Why are they so stingy?
The mystery matters for global economic growth
Baby-boomers were born between 1946 and 1964—and are the luckiest generation in history. Most of the cohort, which numbers 270m across the rich world, have not fought wars. Some got to see the Beatles live. They grew up with strong economic growth. Not all are rich, but in aggregate they have amassed great wealth, owing to a combination of falling interest rates, declining housebuilding and strong earnings. American baby-boomers, who make up 20% of the country’s population, own 52% of its net wealth, worth $76trn (see chart 1).
This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “Live a little”
Finance & economics June 1st 2024
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