Generational Equity

Generational equity refers to the concept that different generations should be treated in similar ways and should have similar opportunities. It is often invoked as an issue by those who criticize the share of societal resources that elderly persons consume today and are predicted to consume in the future, when the baby boomers have retired. According to these critics, a trade-off exists between meeting the needs of children and the elderly, and too many resources go to the elderly. This entry presents the history of the debate about generational equity, evaluates the evidence that there is conflict between age groups, and presents an alternative formulation of the notion of generational equity.