Millennial Dilemmas

Introduction

For Millennials, life can in many ways seem harder than for their forebears. Starting an independent life in a home of your own can seem a distant dream, the labour market is more insecure than ever and the old certainties of life, built on centuries of tradition, have long since fallen away. Yet in many other respects, the latest generations of adults have never had it so good. We live in open, comparatively wealthy societies with few of the old illiberal constraints. Yet ironically, at a time of sexual and social liberation, young people seem to be having less sex and being more risk-averse than ever before. Political engagement would appear to be at an all-time low. And a society that focuses on personal feelings more than ever before is accused of generating ever greater mental-health problems. What’s the truth about younger adults today - and who is to blame for their problems?