Baby boom generation is the large group of people born in the United States from 1946 to 1964. During this period, about 76 million children were born there. By contrast, births totaled about 50 million during the same length of time before the baby boom and about 66 million in the same period after it. The baby boom generation has had major effects on the economy, educational system, and other parts of American life. Its members are called baby boomers or boomers.
Causes of the baby boom.
The baby boom followed the hard times of the Great Depression, which lasted throughout the 1930’s; and America’s participation in World War II, from December 1941 to August 1945. During this time, many Americans delayed marrying and having children because of the poor economy and the wartime conditions. But the number of marriages and births soared after the war. Many new couples were barely out of their teens. At the same time, numerous older married couples who had delayed having children began to have them when the war ended. Thus, the postwar period featured increased births among both younger and older American couples.
Historically, birth rates have increased for a short period following difficult economic times and wars. However, the increase that began in the United States after World War II continued far beyond the usual time. The economy was a key reason. The 1950’s and early 1960’s ranked among the most prosperous eras in U.S. history. Many couples felt economically able to support children. The ownership of automobiles and of single-family houses, chiefly in suburbs, soared. These developments encouraged a lifestyle that was favorable to raising children and enjoying family life together.
Effects of the baby boom.
The baby boom generation has had major effects on American society because of its size. Because there are so many boomers, businesses have created special advertising and marketing campaigns to gain them as customers. When the baby boomers were young, a “youth culture” in American life emphasized their music, styles and fads, and slang.
The size of the baby boom generation has also led to problems. When the boomers reached school age, schools became overcrowded. Some schools expanded to two shifts a day, and some added temporary structures to accommodate all the pupils. When the boomers reached college age, American higher education had to expand. Larger enrollments, along with inflation and other factors, pushed college costs higher. At times, the baby boomers faced relatively high levels of unemployment because they had to compete with one another for jobs. Their economic prospects have not always been as good as those their parents experienced. Perhaps in response to poorer economic conditions, boomers tended to delay marriage and to have small families.
The baby boomers continue to affect American life. For example, when the generation began to reach retirement age in the 2010’s and 2020’s, its size was expected to put a strain on programs designed to help senior citizens. The chief pension program, the Social Security system, provides money to retired people, using funds contributed by active workers. Without revisions in the system, Social Security was expected to face funding shortages as large numbers of boomers retired. For more details, see Social security (Financing Social Security).
See also Generation X.
