Asklemmy

I keep seeing data showing that a huge share of people around 30 can’t afford their own home anymore, not just in the US, but in parts of the EU as well. It seems like homeownership at that age used to be normal, or at least achievable, but now it feels almost out of reach for an entire generation.

What’s strange is that, for decades, we were told that communism was terrifying because you would supposedly “own nothing,” yet it increasingly feels like the people who can’t afford anything today are those living under capitalism. And at the same time, mainstream messaging keeps telling us we’ll “own nothing and be happy,” as if that outcome is now simply expected.

If people can’t afford a home, how are they supposed to start a family? And without stable conditions for forming households, what does that mean for birth rates, future labor force size, and the long-term sustainability of pensions, healthcare systems, and public infrastructure? Are countries going to end up relying almost entirely on immigration just to maintain population and tax bases?

Curious to know what people think. How do you feel about all this, and what are the long-term consequences if these trends continue?