The Millennial Pendulum

Today’s young people have considerably more progressive opinions about economic issues than do their elders. Observers and strategists are now asking whether we will see a lasting change in American politics as a result of the Millennials’ arrival. Analyses of the trajectories across time of several recent generations, summarized in this paper, suggest that the Millennials have a more progressive identity than did previous generations at their age and are likely to move the country leftward on economic and social issues for decades to come.