In analysing policy for this project, I have been struck by the way that references to 'Greedy Baby Boomers' are appearing in the media (see below for a link to one example advertising a new book by Conservative MP David Willetts).

The 'Pinch' - How the Baby Boomers Stole Their Children's Future
http://http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/07/the-pinch-david-willetts

There is a tendency in recent policy documents and political speeches to emphasise inter-generational differences in wealth distribution - for example the stress placed on housing equity held by those aged over 55, and discourses that emphasis the fact that Baby Boomers have benefited from access to final salary pensions, home-ownership and early retirement that will be increasingly unavailable to future generations.

Of course, by deflecting the blame for the plight of the young onto the older generation, it conceals the political and economic decisions that have contributed to this state of affairs. For example:

• The abolition of student grants
• Failure to invest in affordable housing (and selling off social housing)
• The privatisation of pensions and pension fund mismanagement scandals that have helped to generate new risks and future undercertainty around future income in retirement
• The failure to tackle the issue of funding for long-term care for several decades

And these are just for starters!

However, these discourses of intergenerational inequity have productive effects - for example they may be used to justify decisions to transfer funds to education and not long-term care.

What do you think?

Lynne