The Baby Boom Hits the Wall

Abstract

During the 1990s, the number of people in midlife, stretching roughly from ages 35 to 54, will grow four times faster than the population as a whole. The rapid expansion of the number of people in their forties has already catapulted middle-aged concerns to the top of the national agenda. These concerns include family issues, health care, tax rates, crime prevention, and community standards. But how to resolve these issues remains up in the air. Until now, baby boomers have gotten what they wanted out of life by demanding their right to do as they please. Now, treading the unfamiliar territory of middle-aged responsibilities, they aren’t sure how to proceed.