ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that a fundamental premise of generational equity—the notion that America’s younger generations are suffering because of the elderly population and its entitlement programs—is both flawed and dangerous. The logic behind the concept of generational equity can be criticized on several important counts. First, the notion that the elderly are no longer economically disadvantaged reflects an earlier mentioned tendency to homogenize the old, ignoring their tremendous diversity. A second assumption underlying generational equity is the idea that working class men and women and their children—especially minority children—are suffering as a consequence of our policies and programs for the old. Another problem with the generational equity concept lies in its assumption that the elderly alone have a stake in Social Security, Medicare, and other government programs depicted as serving only the old. Generational interdependence would have view benefits like public education and Medicare as transfers across generations that meet different needs across the life course, to advantage of all.
