The familiar narrative is compelling in its simplicity: the privileged post-war generation, the Baby Boomers, bought up all the property, pulled up the ladder behind them, and left younger generations to grapple with a crippling housing crisis and stagnant wages. But is this popular story of generational conflict entirely fair?
A growing body of analysis suggests that this widespread blame game is not only overly simplistic but is dangerously obscuring the true, more complex roots of modern Britain's social and economic challenges. Pointing the finger at an entire demographic, it seems, is easier than confronting systemic policy failures.
The Flawed Logic of Generational Warfare
The argument often centres on housing. While it's true that Boomers benefitted from a period of greater affordability, the idea of a monolithic, wealthy generation is a myth. Vast inequalities exist within the Boomer cohort itself. Many are asset-rich but cash-poor, reliant solely on the value of their home for retirement, while others face pension poverty and ill health.
Blaming them for soaring house prices ignores decades of government policy failure to build enough homes, the financialisation of housing, and the long-term decline in social housing stock—issues that are political and economic, not merely generational.
Economic Winds, Not Generational Greed
The economic landscape of the 1970s and 80s was vastly different. While some Boomers prospered, they also faced their own crises: rampant inflation, industrial decline, and mass unemployment. Their financial outcomes were shaped by these global forces, not a collective plot against their children.
Furthermore, pinning the UK's current economic strains solely on one generation overlooks the seismic impact of the 2008 global financial crash, a decade of austerity politics, and the recent pandemic—events that have disproportionately hampered the prospects of Millennials and Gen Z.
A Call for a More Nuanced Debate
Framing complex issues as a battle between young and old is a political distraction. It shifts focus away from holding policymakers to account for decisions on taxation, planning, wages, and social care that affect everyone.
The real divide in Britain is not between birth years; it's between the wealthy and the poor, the asset-owners and the renters. Finding solutions requires uniting across generations to demand better housing policy, a fairer tax system, and a more robust social safety net for all, rather than fighting amongst ourselves.
Ultimately, challenging the cliché of the 'greedy Boomer' isn't about absolving a generation of all responsibility. It's about fostering a smarter, more productive conversation that focuses on the actual levers of power and change, paving the way for a more equitable future for every generation.
