Are We Really Worse Off Than Our Ancestors?

Logosofia no Dia a Dia · Apr 29, 2026 · 38m

Is this the first generation to be poorer than its parents? This episode takes a long view, looking at 700 years of economic history to separate myth from reality. We explore the "hockey stick" of post-Industrial Revolution growth, the post-war anomaly that created modern expectations, and why housing has become the great exception to the rule of rising purchasing power. From Robert Allen's medieval wage data to the decoupling of productivity from pay in the 1980s, we break down why aggregate statistics often fail to capture the real squeeze on young people today. Episode 2521 —…