A waltz with German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer will inform you that one’s solitude is vital for self-discovery. Being alone is a necessary state for man’s progress, but permanent social desolation is unhealthy, whether for the mind, the body, or, some would argue, the spirit. Unfortunately, the 21st century has been a period of introversion on steroids: Young people are not dating, getting married, or having children. While this will lead to long-term economic consequences, it is also a tragic devolution for humanity in the East and the West.
Being Alone at Home
As teenagers, many envisioned flying the coop to live in their own bachelor apartments. No sharing the bathroom with siblings, no going to bed at 8:30, and no eating broccoli and spinach. Fortunately, as our brains develop, we eventually realize this should only be a temporary state. But an increasing number of Americans have not received the memo that it is time to grow up.
US Census Bureau data, gathered by Apollo chief economist Torsten Slok, show that 40 million Americans live alone. Twenty-nine percent of US households consist of only one person. By comparison, in 1960, it was 13% and approximately five million.
Of course, there could be many reasons for this: the cost of living, the lack of a social life, young men retreating from the toxic dating scene, and perhaps overbearing parents who arrested their children’s development. Others might not have the personality or will to live with another person. Either way, single-person households and the steady, multi-decade upward trajectory do not bode well for the future.
Where Are the Grandparents?
When millennials were everyone’s favorite generational punching bag, the public grieved the dot-com-era kids for delaying adulthood. They lived at home longer, stayed in school for several more years, and married with children well into their 30s or even 40s. Everyone’s personal circumstances differ, but a grim reality emerges: Children born today, and in the years ahead, will have little time with their grandparents.










