Generation Hexed

"We used to think in Britain of a society divided by class. Increasingly we worry about a society divided by conflicts of culture and identity. But I believe there is another division, even more significant but much less remarked upon. We are also living in a society increasingly divided by age." David Willetts MP, Speech to Policy Exchange, 28th November, 2005

Young people born the 1970s and 80s find it increasingly difficult to buy their own homes, are burdened with student debts and are largely shut out of relatively generous company pension schemes.

By contrast, many of those born in the post war baby boom are living in houses worth far more than they paid for them, can enjoy an early and affluent retirement and, unlike the younger generation, will derive far more benefit from the welfare state than they will contribute in taxes. Are the under 30s likely to keep quiet about these iniquities for much longer?

Camilla Cavendish of The Times asks whether the legitimacy of the welfare state will be called into question as struggling, younger workers pay for state benefits and services used disproportionately by a comparatively well-off, older generation.

Interviewees include:

David Willetts, MP
Blair Gibbs, Research Officer at the think tank Reform and the co-author of The Class of 2005 - the IPOD generation.
Martin Raymond, director of the trends consultancy The Future Laboratory and author of The Tomorrow People: Future consumers and how to read them today.
Richard Brooks, Research Director of The Fabian Society
Sophie Livingstone, Head of Policy & Communications, The Foyer Federation
Andrew Dilnot, Principal, St Hugh's College, Oxford and former head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Professor James Sefton, Tanaka Business School, Imperial College, London
Professor John Hills, professor of social policy, London School of Economics and member of the Pensions Commission.

Presenter: Camilla Cavendish
Producer: Innes Bowen
Editor: Nicola Meyrick