From Boomers to Burdens: How the Economic Windfall of One Generation Leaves Young People with Massive Debt

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Young individuals in the UK may feel ⁢overwhelmed by the financial challenges ‌they encounter, believing that past generations had it easier economically. Adding to their concerns about owning a home and navigating a volatile job market is the unsettling news that the public debt in the UK‍ has reached 100% of‍ GDP.

This debt load will burden taxpayers for years to come. Currently, paying just the interest on the country’s debt consumes approximately 7.3% of public expenditure—more than what is allocated for defense (4.8%) or transportation (3.8%).

A ⁢portion of these ⁢funds will be directed ‌towards essential future⁢ public services, while some will be used to address ‌issues ‍stemming from historical underinvestment⁣ in critical infrastructure ⁢like water and⁣ railways.

In past decades, UK governments utilized infrastructure assets such as British Gas to ‌generate‍ revenue, selling⁣ them off at discounted rates. Older generations⁢ who could afford shares⁣ profited‌ from these transactions.

Today’s youth have also borne other costs, ⁢such as disruptions caused by COVID lockdowns that forced closures of schools and universities to protect ‌older ⁢individuals. Additionally, Brexit—largely supported by retirees—has restricted young ⁣people’s ability to live and work in ‌the EU.

Despite these challenges faced by younger generations, pensioners have seen a ⁣significant increase ‌in their ⁣average income over the ‌last ⁤two decades compared to working-age adults. The median income of pensioner households now surpasses that of households with children after housing expenses are considered.

2024-09-30 01:15:03
Source from phys.org