By David Madland, Amanda Logan
Center for American Progress
May 6, 2008
Young adults today–often known as the Millennial Generation–have decidedly progressive views on economic issues, possibly more so than any previous generation. According to the results of our first-of-a-kind analysis of Millennials’ views on the economy, a majority of 18- to 29-year-olds (our definition of this generation) believe that the government can be a force for good in the economy, and that increased investments in healthcare, education, and other areas are necessary to ensure strong and sustainable economic growth.
Our analysis also shows that Millennials mostly reject the conservative viewpoint that government is the problem, and that free markets always produce the best results for society. Indeed, Millennials’ views are more progressive than those of other age groups today, and are more progressive than previous generations when they were younger. This is especially true when compared to the conservative views of Generation X–men and women who are now in their 30s and early 40s.
* Millennials are more likely to support universal health coverage than any age group in the 30 previous years the question has been asked, with 57 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds saying that health insurance should come from a government insurance plan.
* Eighty-seven percent of Millennials think the government should spend more money on health care even if a tax increase is required to pay for it, the highest level of support in the question’s 20-year history.
Millennials are already the largest generation in size, weighing in today at between 80 and 95 million people, depending on exactly how the generations are defined. This exceeds the number of baby boomers.
What’s more, Millennials are a large, politically active generation that cares deeply about economic issues. Studies have found that they are, for example, more likely to express interest in politics and elections, care a good deal who wins, try to influence others’ votes, and attend political meetings.
Research suggests that the political opinions and voting patterns of young adults are likely to carry forward throughout their lives. Political attachments attitudes formed in early adulthood often continue to be held later in life.
This study did not attempt to pinpoint the source of progressive opinions of Millennials, but our research points to a number of possible reasons why in time they may well become known in the future as the Progressive Generation. Young adults today face more significant economic challenges than have other recent generations, among them lower rates of healthcare coverage, worsening job prospects, and higher levels of student loan debt–all legacies of the conservative policies that have dominated in recent years.
The upshot: This Progressive Generation could well be poised to transform the American political landscape in 2008 and beyond due to their embrace of decidedly progressive positions on economic issues and the role of government in economy.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/05/progressive_generation.html
Full report:
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/05/pdf/progressive_generation.pdf
Comment:
By Don McCanne, MD
The bad news is that Millennials face “lower rates of healthcare coverage, worsening job prospects, and higher levels of student loan debt.” The good news is that they now “reject the conservative viewpoint that government is the problem, and that free markets always produce the best results for society.”
The Millennials recognize that free market dynamics should be relegated to the role where they work well. More importantly, the Millennials clearly understand that working together, through our public institutions, we can use our great resources to make this nation a far better place for everyone.
There really is hope for the future.
