Review of Intergenerational Theft

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Blueberry Dragon
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Review of Intergenerational Theft

Post by Blueberry Dragon »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Intergenerational Theft" by Daniel Harrison.]
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4 out of 5 stars
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Why are young people in the UK staying longer with their parents? Why are young couples choosing not to have children? Why are they grumbling about childcare costs despite double incomes? Why are they delaying housing purchases? Who is to blame? To get some insights into possible answers to these questions, get a copy of Daniel Harrison’s “Intergenerational Theft”. 


The book is an attempt to make an evidence-based case that UK government policy has been biased towards the baby boomer generation as politicians strive to achieve their short-term electoral goals. 


The book is well-researched, and it presents a lot of data and detailed calculations to make watertight arguments that prove that housing prices have tripled over a generation. The author argues that politicians are unwilling to take necessary steps to ease the burden of the younger generations, such as increasing housing stock (which in turn would lead to lower house prices), in order to keep the large boomer electoral cohort happy. The book also squarely lays the blame for higher debt in the UK on boomers’ doorsteps. 


I found the pointers to other books, which make similar arguments, and the comprehensive glossary useful. The author also presents possible solutions to the massive debt problem, which could be valuable to future policymakers.


I found the book sorely lacking in the storytelling department, though, and I felt that it read like an economics thesis paper rather than a book. The author could have easily broken up the text containing dense economic arguments with anecdotes or examples to make it more readable for the lay reader. Further, I found that there were several typos and grammatical errors, and they were often distractions that a serious book such as this could do without. For these reasons, I am deducting one point and rating the book 4 out of 5 stars.


The book is likely to appeal to hardcore economists and government policy buffs. The book may also find takers in younger cohorts (aged 18-40) but may not appeal to baby boomers (aged 60+).

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Intergenerational Theft
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Gerry Steen
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Post by Gerry Steen »

Blueberry Dragon wrote: 03 Dec 2024, 07:56 [Following is a volunteer review of "Intergenerational Theft" by Daniel Harrison.]
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4 out of 5 stars
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Why are young people in the UK staying longer with their parents? Why are young couples choosing not to have children? Why are they grumbling about childcare costs despite double incomes? Why are they delaying housing purchases? Who is to blame? To get some insights into possible answers to these questions, get a copy of Daniel Harrison’s “Intergenerational Theft”. 


The book is an attempt to make an evidence-based case that UK government policy has been biased towards the baby boomer generation as politicians strive to achieve their short-term electoral goals. 


The book is well-researched, and it presents a lot of data and detailed calculations to make watertight arguments that prove that housing prices have tripled over a generation. The author argues that politicians are unwilling to take necessary steps to ease the burden of the younger generations, such as increasing housing stock (which in turn would lead to lower house prices), in order to keep the large boomer electoral cohort happy. The book also squarely lays the blame for higher debt in the UK on boomers’ doorsteps. 


I found the pointers to other books, which make similar arguments, and the comprehensive glossary useful. The author also presents possible solutions to the massive debt problem, which could be valuable to future policymakers.


I found the book sorely lacking in the storytelling department, though, and I felt that it read like an economics thesis paper rather than a book. The author could have easily broken up the text containing dense economic arguments with anecdotes or examples to make it more readable for the lay reader. Further, I found that there were several typos and grammatical errors, and they were often distractions that a serious book such as this could do without. For these reasons, I am deducting one point and rating the book 4 out of 5 stars.


The book is likely to appeal to hardcore economists and government policy buffs. The book may also find takers in younger cohorts (aged 18-40) but may not appeal to baby boomers (aged 60+).

******
Intergenerational Theft
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I am a baby boomer and intrigued by what this book has to offer. I have 4 adult children who are faced with the reality of high cost housing. We try to help by encouraging our kids to come back to live at home so as to save money to buy a house, but maybe we should be doing something on the government policy level. This book is on my to read list. Great review!
Blueberry Dragon
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Post by Blueberry Dragon »

Thank you @Gerry Steen ! Glad to hear that this book interests you. Look forward to hearing your feedback once you read it.
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Bettny Andrade
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Post by Bettny Andrade »

Blueberry Dragon wrote: 03 Dec 2024, 07:56 [Following is a volunteer review of "Intergenerational Theft" by Daniel Harrison.]
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4 out of 5 stars
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Why are young people in the UK staying longer with their parents? Why are young couples choosing not to have children? Why are they grumbling about childcare costs despite double incomes? Why are they delaying housing purchases? Who is to blame? To get some insights into possible answers to these questions, get a copy of Daniel Harrison’s “Intergenerational Theft”. 


The book is an attempt to make an evidence-based case that UK government policy has been biased towards the baby boomer generation as politicians strive to achieve their short-term electoral goals. 


The book is well-researched, and it presents a lot of data and detailed calculations to make watertight arguments that prove that housing prices have tripled over a generation. The author argues that politicians are unwilling to take necessary steps to ease the burden of the younger generations, such as increasing housing stock (which in turn would lead to lower house prices), in order to keep the large boomer electoral cohort happy. The book also squarely lays the blame for higher debt in the UK on boomers’ doorsteps. 


I found the pointers to other books, which make similar arguments, and the comprehensive glossary useful. The author also presents possible solutions to the massive debt problem, which could be valuable to future policymakers.


I found the book sorely lacking in the storytelling department, though, and I felt that it read like an economics thesis paper rather than a book. The author could have easily broken up the text containing dense economic arguments with anecdotes or examples to make it more readable for the lay reader. Further, I found that there were several typos and grammatical errors, and they were often distractions that a serious book such as this could do without. For these reasons, I am deducting one point and rating the book 4 out of 5 stars.


The book is likely to appeal to hardcore economists and government policy buffs. The book may also find takers in younger cohorts (aged 18-40) but may not appeal to baby boomers (aged 60+).

******
Intergenerational Theft
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This book presents some very good research, although it is not only happening in the UK. I am seeing more and more evidence that many people are already living as adults with their father, quite normally, and also that in most cases, even if they can, they decide not to have children.
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Post by Blueberry Dragon »

Thanks for sharing your views and observations, @Bettny Andrade. Much appreciated!
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Amy Luman
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Post by Amy Luman »

These are complicated issues. Even though those experiencing the economic problems would like to blame everything that has happened on the baby boomers generation, and some of it definitely fals there, they seem to be scapegoats. Thanks!
Blueberry Dragon
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Post by Blueberry Dragon »

Thank you for sharing your views, @Amy Luman. Much appreciated!
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Post by Lene Lena »

I just finished reading this book and I agree with you that the book highlights critical issues facing young people in the UK, including prolonged parental cohabitation and delayed family planning. And it's not just the UK but it's a global problem. Is the rising cost of living a real thing or something we are meant to believe?
Blueberry Dragon
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Post by Blueberry Dragon »

Lene Lena wrote: 03 Feb 2025, 15:41 I just finished reading this book and I agree with you that the book highlights critical issues facing young people in the UK, including prolonged parental cohabitation and delayed family planning. And it's not just the UK but it's a global problem. Is the rising cost of living a real thing or something we are meant to believe?
Thanks for your comment @Lene Lena. Indeed, it is a global problem, and that would probably make a topic for yet another book!
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