'This bargain is eroding': Inside the youngest generations' view of the American Dream

Every generation faces economic and social "shocks," as David Blanchflower describes era-defining crises like the Great Recession, 9/11 and the Vietnam War. But no generation in the U.S. since the Silent Generation, which includes people currently aged 81 to 98, has suffered quite as much shock as Gen Z, and the viability of their American Dream is at stake, says Blanchflower, a Dartmouth College labor economist and lecturer. Gen Zers, those currently aged 14 to 29, have seen their education and social growth stunted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and those who've graduated high school or college have entered a volatile workforce, only to find an out-of-reach housing market and gaining inflationary pressures. Older Gen Zers who've landed "good jobs" struggle with worry, stress and depression, says Blanchflower. The traditional U-shaped curve of happiness has flattened , with young people becoming increasingly unhappy over the course of their lives, according to an August 2025 study he co-led. DON'T MISS: The communication skill that can help you accelerate your career growth The viability of the American Dream, popularized during the country's post-World War II era, has dwindled, says Mark Rank, an author, professor and researcher of the American Dream at Washington University in St. Louis. Since the Baby Boomers came of age in the 1970s, each successive generation has fared worse than the last , some researchers say. …