[matusp]

> So it is just a case of older people pulling the ladder up behind themselves.

Is it though? I have a feeling that previous generations were simply happy with less. Now we are so connected and everybody wants what they consider the standard according to social media: huge house in the most prominent city in their country, N exotic vacations every year, meaningful job, etc. But this would be a pretty tall order even 20 or 40 years ago.

[cayleyh]

I too feel this is a huge part of it, coupled with the fact that "basics" of last generation (a home you own, a stable job that doesn't overwork you on evenings and weekends, affordable options to have a family) are also being priced out of many peoples lives. You feel like you're not matching what your parents and cultural artifacts tell you you should be achieving at your age, and at the same time you're flooded with influencers on ski trips to Japan or snorkelling in Jamaica every other weekend, and it's a perfect recipe for feeling bad about your life no matter how well off you're doing compared to yesterdays median statistic.

[AlecSchueler]

> I have a feeling that previous generations were simply happy with less.

They could also afford to buy houses on minimum wage salaries.

I have a much higher salary than my parents, and I'm theory I can get more things from further afar, but I still live in a much more precarious situation.