I wish this article had any form of substantiation to its claims - data, graphs, other articles, research, etc.
It makes it hard to tell if this is written in good faith or a cope-piece for those worried about the housing market and economy as a whole given the demographic of readers of the FT.
Agreed. Like are American Gen Z more or less debt-burdened than Millienals? What are the differences in their spending habits, education decisions, relationship and family choices, etc.
Seems strange to not try to show any meaningful data on any of that.
It is worse than that in Europe now. Just like Halloween, the tipping culture is sipping in, but you can still just not tip, because it is also considered American imperialism and optional. It is an infected question.
This article is harmful and flawed in multiple critical ways:
Data and Analysis Problems:
Cherry-picks economic indicators while ignoring wealth inequality, racial disparities, and class divides
Uses averages instead of medians, masking extreme inequality
Overlooks crushing student/medical debt
Makes unsupported claims about Gen Z homeownership despite record unaffordability
Ignores gig economy instability and job insecurity
Misrepresents political behavior through oversimplified economic determinism
Healthcare Crisis Omissions:
US life expectancy declined while European peers improved
Ignores mental health crisis among American youth
Overlooks devastating impact of medical debt
Fails to acknowledge value of European universal healthcare
Disregards social determinants of health
Quality of Life Disparities:
Neglects European work-life balance benefits (paid leave, vacation)
Overlooks value of social safety nets
Ignores public transportation and urban planning benefits
Dismisses environmental health impacts
Fails to consider housing stability programs
Harmful Impact:
Perpetuates false narrative of American exceptionalism while ignoring systemic problems
Minimizes serious challenges facing young Americans
Discourages necessary policy reforms by suggesting everything is fine
Promotes dangerous misunderstanding of generational economic trends
Undermines push for better healthcare, worker protections, and social programs
Uses selective data to dismiss valid concerns about inequality and economic instability
Creates false division between European and American youth experiences
Distracts from urgent need to address climate change, healthcare access, and wealth concentration
The article's rosy portrayal of American Gen Z success does active harm by providing cover for continued inaction on critical social and economic problems while dismissing very real struggles facing young people today.
