Source: Fortune
Summary
Professor Susan Wachter of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania suggests that the American Dream is giving way to a new social phenomenon: The Great Postponement. Due to unaffordable housing costs, rising mortgage rates, and increased housing prices, many young adults are delaying key life milestones such as homeownership, marriage, and having children. According to a study, a record 25.2 million adults under 35 were still living with their parents in 2025, and the median age at first marriage has increased. Wachter attributes this shift to both economic and non-economic factors.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. The Great Postponement is not just about delayed homeownership, but also about the growing wealth gap between those with access to parental wealth and those without. The 21st Century Road to Housing Act aims to increase housing supply and expand access to affordable housing, but it remains to be seen if it can address the issue. The American Dream, once within reach, is now a distant goal for many. The question is, will opportunity and hard work be enough to achieve it, or will circumstances of birth dictate one’s fate?
Author: Evan Null
