The Economic Perspective: “Generations”

Posted on Posted in Daily Ag Summary, Economic Perspective-Mike Walden, Featured Stories, Top Ag Headlines

This is Mary Walden with economist MW, welcoming you to the economic perspective.  Today’s program looks at generations.  Mike, we often hear about the Millennials, Baby Boomers, or Gen X.  These are all names for groupings of people called generations.  Give us some background on recent generations and how meaningful the concept is.

  • Various definitions for generations in terms of years born
  • Last four are the Baby Boomers (born 1946-65), Generation X (1966-80), Millennials (1981-2000), and Gen Z (IGEN), 2001-today
  • Obviously what the generations share is their birth period, which also means they share their experiences through growing up, schooling, and taking a job
  • Big question among those who study generations is, with these shared experiences mean people in the same generation are alike, but then are different than those from other generations
  • Or, are there other factors that bond people – where raised, gender, race, etc.
  • Or, are people of the same age, but from different generations the same
  • Hear the saying – I’m now acting just like my parents
  • I’m MW

And I’m Mary Walden for the Economic Perspective, an NC State Extension program from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.