Not Big Earners

Writing at The Daily Beast about Millennials' unusual consumption patterns, Samantha Allen debunks most theories and explains it with simple economics. She observes:

If you’re wondering why millennials don’t have much sex, and don’t buy cars, forget social theorizing: the harsh truth lies in their near-empty wallets.

Millennials are not some vast unsolvable mystery. According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau (PDF), they earn $2,000 less than their parents did at a comparable age, they are more likely to live in poverty, and they are more likely to live at home.

So the next time you have a hunch about why millennials are the way they are, ask yourself if economic insecurity might be a better hypothesis.

Unbelievably high college loan debt is undoubtedly part of the Millennial problem set. Free online porn is a factor, too.