In Stealth Fashion Millennials Are Rapidly Transforming Society
Something had mysteriously changed during the 2016 US Presidential primaries
when an unlikely democratic candidate burst on the national scene with an unquestionable
allure for the Millennial generation. How was it that a 'left wing' Bernie
Sanders, who was of an age that he would be considered as a very old grandfather
by this young generation, could draw such rousing support? What was it about
this grey haired unknown senator from Vermont who so clearly represented the expectations,
aspirations and frustrations of this new 'coming of age' generation?
Millennials have silently emerged as a powerful and influential force because
of their size and because of how contrasting their beliefs are from versus
previous generations including only slightly older Gen-X.
Millennials have surpassed Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest living generation,
according to population
estimates recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Millennials, defined
as those ages 18-34 in 2015, now number 75.4 million, surpassing the 74.9 million
Baby Boomers (ages 51-69) and Generation X (ages 35-50 in 2015) is projected
to pass the Boomers in population by 2028.
Very importantly, the Millennial generation continues to grow as young immigrants
expand its ranks which presently account for over 15% of the total.
What Makes Millennials Different?
The Millennial generation grew up during an era of unprecedented changes and
shocks which have profoundly influenced their views and choices:
- Millennials are older in household formations when they marry and have
children compared to previous generations,
- Millennials have student debt loads that define and significantly frame
this generations financial choices,
- Millennials are more educated than any previous generation as defined by
percentage with undergraduate and post graduate educational attainments,
- There is a much more foreign born component of the millennial generation
at 15%, than any generation going back to the early 1900's European immigration
wave to the US,
- Family is much more important as a result of changes in parenting since roles
such as fatherhood have taken on more involvement, youth event participation and
inward family cocooning. A 1997 Gallup survey found that 9 in 10 children
(a population comprised entirely of Millennials that year) reported high
levels of closeness with their parents and were personally happy with that
relationship. Their tight relationship with their parents extends to work,
where some companies report establishing relationships with parents of their
Millennial employees. The Millennials’ close relationships with their parents
might be related to the greater time they spent with their parents growing
up. According to Pew (2014), hours spent parenting have increased for both
fathers and mothers, tripling for fathers since 1985 and increasing by 60
percent for mothers. These increases have been particularly pronounced among
college-educated parents, with college-educated mothers increasing their
childcare time since the mid-1990s by over 9 hours per week, while less educated
mothers increased their childcare time by only over 4 hours per week.
- Millennials are much more pronounced to move to Urban centers versus being
interested in Suburban living,
- Millennial are the most technology-centric generation yet, as they came
of age in the era of the internet / smart phones and fully embraced social
media to change how they communicate and socialize,
- Millennials also came of age during developments that deeply shaped their
sense and need for security.
- 911 and the emerging reality of terrorism in the US,
- Iraq and Afghanistan Wars where fellow students fought,
- School shootings across the nation and the security changes required,
- Corporate Downsizing, Right-Sizing and Out-Sourcing which effected
their financial security of the family,
- The Millennial generation has a much larger sense of "entitlement" since they
were often raised and educated with a sense of "you deserve" versus "you
earned",
- Millennials believe student loans should be forgiven and is one of
the reasons Bernie Sanders was so popular,
- Millennials are much more tolerant of others and cultural differences
and react strongly to hate speech, threats and racism
- Millennials earn 20% less than Baby Boomers did at their age.
All of these differences are now being felt as the Millennial generation becomes
an increasingly larger component of the US economy.
Three Major Economic Ramifications
My Macro Analytics Co-Host Charles Hugh-Smith believes these differences are
being witnessed by the following three Economic ramifications:
1- URBAN versus SUBURBAN LIVING
THE SHIFT
- Millennials favor foot-traffic urban shopping/entertainment/dining districts,
- Millennials favor streets with high densities of venues, cafes, brew-pubs,
etc. which are safe and close to mass transit,
- These urban districts are expanding in small cities, college towns, etc.
- The experience is as important as pricing: Millennials value convenience
and a variety of experiences, not just convenience and price.
- Long commutes and suburban shopping malls are not convenient to Millennials
- Home ownership rates are falling due to the very high cost of urban-core
housing,
- By choice or necessity Millennials rent rather than buy,
THE ECONOMIC RAMIFICATION
- Future Single Residential Housing Requirements may be less and housing
prices exposed as Baby Boomers leave their homes for Assisted Living or
Nursing Homes.
- Boomer wealth is largely tied up in costly homes--who will buy these
houses as Boomers sell to downsize/retire?
2- AUTO & LIGHT TRUCK SALES
THE SHIFT
- Millennials favor Uber and Car-sharing over auto ownership.
- Urban living and avoiding longer commutes reduces the need for auto ownership.
THE ECONOMIC RAMIFICATION
3- RETAIL SHOPPING & RETAIL COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
THE SHIFT
- Millennials favor the convenience of online shopping,
- Millennials do not find value in big suburban malls
- Millennials often work a lot of hours and don't want to waste time commuting/driving
to suburban shopping.
- Hard to beat the easy return policy of Zappos and Amazon or the value
of free delivery via Amazon prime,
THE ECONOMIC RAMIFICATION
- The future of the Mall is likely limited as well as many "brick & mortar" retailers.
- America is the most highly over-stored nation in the world. Excess retailing
space is a massive future problem
- Amazon has reached critical mass and as Millennials continue to dominate,
online procurement and delivery will continue to accelerate.
Three Major Social Ramifications
Though it is too certain to know for certain, indications are that there are
a number of social ramifications that can be expected as a result of the advent
of the Millennial Generation.
1- PHYSICAL & FINANCIAL SECURITY
THE SHIFT
- Millennials place a higher value on physical and financial security as
a result of the era they grew up in,
THE SOCIAL RAMIFICATION
- Millennials will be willing political to sacrifice personal freedoms
if it is perceived that it will allow government agencies to better ensure
this,
- Security-Surveillance methodologies and technologies will become an increasing
larger way of American life.
- Millennials are likely to be "savers" in a much larger way than the last
two generations.
2- GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENTS
THE SHIFT
- Millennials overwhelmingly believe student loans are unjust and should
be a government entitlement program,
- Existing student loans should be forgiven and paid by the government.
THE SOCIAL RAMIFICATION
- Candidates that run on a platform of student loan forgiveness will be
elected.
- Candidates that run on platforms of Social Security and Medicare means
testing will have wide Millennial support,
- Generally, Millennials will be more 'left leaning' as demonstrated by
Bernie Sanders.
3- LESS MATERIALISTIC
THE SHIFT
- Millennials having grown up with most of their needs being met are less
inclined to seek satisfaction from materialism and pursue wealth accumulation.
- Millennials are more inclined to be motivated by notoriety & seek
political influence. This stems from their roots in social media,
- This is a trend that has been seen in other countries when opportunities
for wealth creation become more restrictive.
THE SOCIAL RAMIFICATION
- Millennials will place in jeopardy the US economy maintain being a 70%
Consumption economy
The biggest long term ramification may be the last. The era of the US economy
sustaining itself via consumption may die as the Millennials become the economy!
Their motivations and expectations are completely different than any prior
generation and the changes will be profound.
Charles Hugh Smith concludes that there may be a consequence which is a even
bigger question.
He asks: "Can our financial system and debt-burdened economy enable the
sort of life the Millennials seek, or have we run out of room to transition
to a lower consumption lifestyle and still service the growing mountain of
debt?"
His conclusion: "It seems to me that the Millennials will have to navigate
a system re-set that few of them seem to anticipate!"
What Is Often Dubbed "The Snowflake" Generation