Public Looks Back at Worst Decade in 50 Years
As the current decade draws to a close, relatively few Americans have positive things to say about it. But major technological and communications advances are viewed in an overwhelmingly positive light.
The Millennials
Who are they? How are they different from –and similar to — their parents? How is their moment in history shaping them? And how might they, in turn, reshape America in the decades ahead?
Recession Turns a Graying Office Grayer
Older adults are staying in the labor force longer, and younger adults are staying out of it longer. Both trends intensified with the recession and are expected to continue after the economy recovers. One reason: Older workers value not just a paycheck, but the psychological and social rewards.
Forty Years After Woodstock, A Gentler Generation Gap
They have different values, beliefs and lifestyles, but young and old today are disagreeing without being disagreeable, a new Pew Research survey finds. They also share a fondness for Woodstock-era rock and roll.
Go West, Old Man
Searching for a modern fountain of youth? American’s West has the highest concentration of older adults who don’t think of themselves as old. Older Westerners also feel healthier and get more exercise than older folks elsewhere.
Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality
Getting old isn’t nearly as bad as people think it will be. Nor is it quite as good. A new Pew Research social trends survey finds a sizeable gap between expectations and actual experiences.
Most Middle-Aged Adults Are Rethinking Retirement Plans
In the midst of a recession that has taken a heavy toll on many nest eggs, just over half of all working adults ages 50 to 64 say they may delay their retirement — and another 16% say they never expect to stop working.
Not Your Grandfather’s Recession — Literally
Relatively speaking, older Americans’ attitudes and lifestyles have been less affected by the economic slump than have those of younger Americans. Meantime, the “Threshold Generation,” people nearing retirement, have been hardest hit, as they’ve seen their nest eggs shrink the most.
Newspapers Face a Challenging Calculus
The growth in readership online has not offset the decline in print for newspapers.
Generations Online in 2009
Contrary to the image of Generation Y as the “Net Generation,” internet users in their twenties do not dominate every aspect of online life. Gen X is the most likely to shop, bank and look for health information online. And larger percentages of older generations are doing many more activities online.
