{"id":67448,"date":"2026-09-24T18:29:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T16:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=67448"},"modified":"2026-09-24T18:38:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T16:38:47","slug":"parents-against-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2026\/09\/24\/parents-against-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents against children"},"content":{"rendered":"

By \u00c1lvaro J. D\u00edaz-Mella<\/big><\/p>\n

There are generational inequalities in Spain.<\/strong> What my father thought of me at 22\u2014and what I thought of him\u2014bears no resemblance to what I think of my 22-year-old son, or what he thinks of me. What is wrong is turning that into a conflict between parents and children.<\/p>\n

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At some point, we all are\u2014or will be\u2014grandchildren, children, and parents; some of us, grandparents. Before turning this into a battle between opposing camps<\/strong>, it is worth remembering what we were doing at 22 and what awaits us now at 64. The child who cannot leave home today will, four decades from now, be the parent who is singled out for criticism. These are not two opposing armies. They are the same people, just at different stages of life.<\/p>\n

It is often said that young people are worse off because older generations had it better:<\/strong> they bought homes cheaply, secured jobs, and now receive pensions funded by their children. Conversely, young people are portrayed as a generation that lacks drive. There is some truth to both accusations. The problem arises when this becomes the *entire* explanation, and we stop discussing housing, employment, or pensions in favor of assigning blame.<\/p>\n

Turning 22 in 1972\u2014amidst an expanding industrial job market\u2014is not the same as turning 22 in 2012<\/strong> (after the financial crisis) or in 2022 (with skyrocketing housing costs). Each generation entered adulthood in a different country.<\/p>\n

In the eighties, the deck of cards seemed more complete:<\/strong> there were bad hands, certainly, but also more ways to secure a home, a salary, or a first job that wasn't soul-crushing. With each passing decade, that deck has grown thinner.<\/strong> There is no need to count the cards one by one: many 22-year-olds today are playing with fewer useful cards, and one of the few wildcards available to them is often their family.<\/p>\n

Nor is it enough to place the burden of responsibility on families. Housing depends on land availability, permits, taxation, credit, and public housing.<\/strong> Employment depends on an economy that has relied too heavily on temporary contracts and created an excess of low-productivity jobs. The market generates wealth, but it does not\u2014on its own\u2014guarantee a home or a decent wage.<\/strong> The State can correct imbalances, but it can also create barriers through poor regulation or by using housing as a political weapon. Responsibility lies in the rules.<\/strong> To a large extent, these are set by the politicians currently in power, not by the family name of the generation that came before.<\/p>\n

Housing represents the most visible divide. A young person may be better educated than their parents yet require many more years of income to purchase a home.<\/strong> They might hold a permanent contract but still be unable to afford rent on their own. The Bank of Spain estimates that between 1987 and 1999, the price of a home was equivalent to roughly 3.5 years of gross household income. By 2008, that figure had reached 9.5 years; by the end of 2023, it stood at 7.3 years. While this differs from a comparison with an individual\u2019s salary, the scale of the financial effort required has shifted dramatically.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the average age at which young people in Spain left the family home hovered around 30.<\/strong> Many do not delay moving out because of convenience, but rather because they cannot afford the rent or save up for a down payment without assistance. Simply saying \"parents bought when prices were low\" does not settle the matter, either. Some bought before the price surge; others bought when interest rates were high; some never bought at all. The advantage depended on the year, the city, employment, and one's family background.<\/p>\n

The labor market tells another part of the story. Spain saw youth unemployment exceed 50% after 2008.<\/strong> Many millennials were saddled with temporary contracts, low wages, and meager savings. Generation Z has seen a decline in formal temporary employment. Yet, that guarantees neither full-time hours nor a sufficient wage. In 2024, around 35% of employed individuals with higher education were working in jobs below their qualification level, compared to a European average of 21.3%.<\/strong> Pursuing higher education remains worthwhile. The problem lies in an economy that fails to generate enough jobs to match the number of degrees held. Blaming parents for \"holding onto jobs\" is easier than examining the underlying structure<\/strong>\u2014one built over years through policy decisions.<\/p>\n

A similar situation applies to pensions. Not all retirees receive large payouts.<\/strong> While some own their homes outright and possess assets, others rely on minimum or survivor pensions while struggling to cover rent. An aging population necessitates a review of the system's funding. Casting pensioners as the enemy of the workforce is unhelpful.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many parents and grandparents support their children by looking after grandchildren, lending out an apartment, or covering expenses. Such solidarity is valuable.<\/strong> Yet, it also reveals a void. While families can step in during a crisis, they should not permanently replace public policy.<\/p>\n

The generational narrative gains traction because it is simple. Instead of asking why housing costs have risen faster than wages, people point the finger at property owners.<\/strong> Instead of discussing how to create productive jobs, they single out pensioners. Yet, within each generation, the disparities are vast: there are those who inherit an apartment and those who cannot afford to rent a room; those who receive a comfortable pension and those who can barely make ends meet.<\/p>\n

Four decades from now, my son will be my age, and someone will point the finger at his generation.<\/strong> What he encounters will not be a legacy of parents versus children; it will be the result of the decisions we make today. The problems belong to us all\u2014and so does the task of solving them.<\/p>\n

\u00c1lvaro J. D\u00edaz-Mella<\/strong>
\nVigo, September 2026<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/big><\/p>\n