'This bargain is eroding': Inside the youngest generations' view of the American

Every generation faces economic and social "shocks," as David Blanchflower describes era-defining crises like the Great Recession, 9/11 and the Vietnam War.

But no generation in the U.S. since the Silent Generation, which includes people currently aged 81 to 98, has suffered quite as much shock as Gen Z, and the viability of their American Dream is at stake, says Blanchflower, a Dartmouth College labor economist and lecturer.

Gen Zers, those currently aged 14 to 29, have seen their education and social growth stunted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and those who've graduated high school or college have entered a volatile workforce, only to find an out-of-reach housing market and gaining inflationary pressures.

Older Gen Zers who've landed "good jobs" struggle with worry, stress and depression, says Blanchflower. The traditional U-shaped curve of happiness has flattened, with young people becoming increasingly unhappy over the course of their lives, according to an August 2025 study he co-led.

Welcome to The Next Dream, a CNBC Make It series exploring how the modern-day pursuits of success and happiness are reshaping our lives 250 years after America's first dream was born.

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Fuente original: CNBC Top News (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/29/gen-z-american-dream-eroding-redefining.html)