'How Baby Boomers Stole The Millennials’ Economic Future:' Book Explores Generation Conflict

Published: Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - 2:51pm
Updated: Thursday, June 27, 2019 - 12:26pm
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There is an ideological battle going on between two generations that sometimes seem diametrically opposed. Joseph Sternberg argues, in his book, that Millennials and Baby Boomers are talking past each other.

Millennials say they’re in a bind, that the economy has never quite worked for us, we’re straddled with student debt and can’t afford to buy a home.

And Baby Boomers’ response? What are you kids complaining about? We live at a time when America has never been so prosperous, you have Google to do your homework for you, you have Uber to hail a cab for you before you even have to step out in the rain. Life isn’t so bad.

So, Sternberg — a millennial himself and editorial page editor for The Wall Street Journal’s European edition — wanted to know who was right. That’s what he tackles in his new book, "The Theft of a Decade: How the Baby Boomers Stole the Millennials’ Economic Future." Based on that title, you can probably guess what side he came down on.

And, according to his research, the Great Recession is at the root of a lot of this. The Show spoke with him about the issue.

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