"On intergenerational fairness grounds, the mayor of London must stop this free travel bung to workers below state pension age.” Over-60s free travel 'costs £84m in lost revenue' www.bbc.com/news/article...

Across the #media and #politics, there appears to be an on-going narrative that something is fundamentally wrong in #Britain. Is Britain really “beyond repair”? IF researcher, Tobias Whelton, questions whether this is truly the case for young people: www.if.org.uk/2025/08/14/i...

If you were turning 18 now, would you prefer to go to university or take some other career route? Go to university: 35% (-6 from 2018) Take some other career route: 53% (+9) yougov.co.uk/topics/socie...

“There is a powerful argument for intergenerational fairness in a society where inheritance, especially of property, dictates life chances, dividing ever younger cohorts into landowner and tenant classes.” Well said 👏 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Come on #Boomers eye tests make road-safety sense: www.if.org.uk/2025/08/13/c...

If you don't want to pay tax, give your time...a great article for the #Boomer generation. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Angela Rayner is reportedly pushing to abolish the lower minimum wage rate for 18-20 year olds, a move most Britons support Min. wage should be same for all over 18: 67% (-1 from 2023) Should be lower for under 21s: 22% (+1) yougov.co.uk/topics/econo...

Spending on Canada's Old Age Security program is unsustainable ($96 Billion+ planned for 2027). Younger generations are suffering disproportionately with unaffordability. The fix for both? Review Canada's outdated tax shelters. www.gensqueeze.ca/protect_oas_... #cdnpoli

My latest, exploring with numbers how the millennial household budget is basically incomprehensible to retired boomers.

Why are basic life aspirations — like owning a home, raising a family, and living on a habitable planet — slipping out of reach for younger Canadians? Generation Squeeze's Hard Truths brings you the untold story about how the deck is stacked against younger people. #cdnpoli #Canada #Millennials

Rents up 21% in 3 years. Yet more evidence of the loaded dice young people face in trying to forge their own lives. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Three stunning and shaming paragraphs, by Rachel Wolf of Public First, in @theobserveruk.bsky.social

We’ve long campaigned for votes@16. Cohort sizes have given older voters more voting power. Widening the voter base, and giving a franchise earlier, both strengthen democratic participation. Now to sort out exclusions in VoterID.

"Britain will never have high growth as long as it panders to the grey vote" #Discuss www.if.org.uk/2025/07/02/b...

Excellent report by @dmk1793.bsky.social offering a solution to the democratic deficit in the UK, part of which is due to cohort size, ageing and likelihood to #vote.

My new Constitution Society report on compulsory voting has now been published. I argue that low turnout has left the UK with an unrepresentative electorate. This is creating warped incentives for politicians, and contributing to low growth, high inequality, and rising democratic discontent.

IF's summer newsletter is out and covers benefit cuts, the spending review, the triple lock and our latest research: createsend.com/t/r-D8765D2C... Want your own copy in your inbox? Sign up at www.if.org.uk & scroll to the bottom of the page.

I'm all for trying to ease intergenerational tensions, but the people who are most opposed to reaching net zero by 2050 are literally those who will not be around to face the consequences.

Canadian politicians are sidestepping the most important – and politically dangerous – question in our housing debate: Should home prices rise, stall or fall? Until we answer it, we can’t fix what’s broken in Canada’s housing system. bit.ly/4lzVuW8

Calling all #EduSky share away…up to €5000 up for grabs #academic #callforpapers

Calling all #EduSky share away…up to €5000 up for grabs #academic #callforpapers

Two essay competitions now open! Win up to 5000€ and the chance to be published in an academic journal More info: www.if.org.uk/research-pos... #intergenerationaljustice #ClimateAction #intergenerationalfairness #gerontocracy #ageing #socialcontract

While there were some welcome announcements in the #spendingreview , the needs and interests of younger generations continue to be largely overlooked. Read our latest article: www.if.org.uk/2025/06/24/a...

Concerning that so many areas of England show such a low uptake among students of cancer preventing HPV vaccination. The prevention message needs to be targeted and stressed more in schools in these areas. www.gov.uk/government/s...

In Canada, retirees are actively offering to take less in benefits “to better support those in need”

James it’s the relentless grey vote protection that we fear after the winter fuel debacle will mean no political party will dare to touch over-60s oyster unfairness, the 8% effective pay rise for over-65s excused from NICs, or the #triplelock profligacy sucking spending away from other generations

The child poverty rate is one in three. The working age poverty rate is just over one in five. The pensioner poverty rate - according to AgeUK, who campaign on this stuff - is 18%. So children are almost twice as likely to live in poverty than pensioners

That is why I am beyond embarrassed that the WFA bar has been set so high. Young people are the future of society and should be nurtured.

While living in less living space by age: under-occupation increases amongst the over-65s, up from 47% in 08/09 to 53% in 22/23.

Yes but they’re frittering their money away. Average rents increased by 46% between 2015 and 2025

“just try harder”? Young people wanting more hours but can’t get them (caveat only up to 2023 so some post-Covid related jobs market suppression there)

As for earnings here’s the kicker - the over-60s experiences the strongest wage growth

Let's break this down... a whopping 🔥170% increase 🔥 in the gap in spending on a child (receives less) than an older person (receives more) has emerged over 20 years!

That's right. Our retirement support system here in Canada is outdated. It was developed in the 1950s to support seniors living in poverty but today an individual with $90,000 of annual income still gets full benefits. For a retired couple making $180,000/year that amount is $18,000. We need change!

In Canada, retirees are actively offering to take less in benefits “to better support those in need”

This is the view of the "squeeze" on Millennials and Gen Z as seen in the UK. The SAME trends hold true here in Canada. For example: Poverty rates for seniors are half what they are for young people, yet the gap in total spending on children and retirees has widened!!!

If you don’t think the absolutely crippling payments required to people over the age of 67, funded by a shrinking working-age population who can’t afford housing, isn’t a problem, you haven’t really looked into the subject

The most disturbing thing about the winter fuel debacle is the chilling effect it'll have on any government which tries to think rationally about pensioner benefits and intergenerational fairness. We really are in the Nanny State now. New writing from me. open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...

As a pensioner, I agree. Why should I enjoy a 20% marginal tax rate whereas my son pays income tax, NI, and student loan repayment. He needs the money more than me.

I bet her parents, like my parents, were convinced until their dying days they'd done it all through hard work and great decision making and not a confluence of luck and circumstance. (low interest rates, low house prices, comparatively high salaries, final salary pensions etc.) All of the "buts"

My grandma bought a 3 bed house and paid the mortgage off in 10 years. She did this by herself, in her 50s, working as a secretary for a local firm. That would quite simply be impossible now.

Link here, entire thread of similar stories and baffled, frustrated often first-generation graduate children struggling to afford their basic bills

Really interesting and I think very insightful thread on Mumsnet about just how entirely different the intergenerational financial experience has been:

Thanks Tim, Between 2004-05 and 2023-24, real per-person government spending on pensioners increased by 55%, compared to just 20% for children. www.if.org.uk/research-pos...

NEW: Shocking gap in government spending on a child versus an older person is revealed: Over 20 years, real per-person government spending on pensioners increased by 55%, compared to just 20% for children. #spendingreview #childpoverty #intergenerationalfairness www.if.org.uk/research-pos...

Spoke to @GBNEWS about welcome extension of free school meals to all families on universal credit. And urgent need to lift two child limit & ensure UC covers essentials. Or government risks seeing hunger, hardship & child poverty rise on their watch. www.gbnews.com/politics/lab...

The government must prioritise #children in the #spendingreview. Our latest report investigates government spending by age over 20 years and finds that while per person spending on older people increased by 55% the increase for children was just 20% www.if.org.uk/research-pos...