Are Canada’s politics becoming less about left versus right and more about young versus old?

In this episode of Classonomics, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux explore the growing generational divide in Canadian politics and what it means for the economy, housing, and the future of democracy. They examine why older voters may prioritize inflation, pensions, and asset prices, while younger Canadians increasingly feel shut out of homeownership, economic growth, and traditional institutions.

Topics covered:

• The growing age divide in Canadian politics
• Why seniors and younger voters have different economic priorities
• “Pocketbook” versus “sociotropic” voting
• Economic growth and the distribution of wealth
• Old Age Security and the politics of an aging population
• Housing prices, homeownership, and generational inequality
• Why young Canadians feel increasingly disconnected from the economy
• Populism, political radicalization, and distrust in institutions
• Brexit and the backlash against economic elites
• Why making the economy work for younger Canadians matters for the future

#Canada #CanadianPolitics #HousingCrisis #GenerationalDivide #Economy #Politics #HousingAffordability #Millennials #GenZ #MissingMiddle

Chapters:

00:00 — Is Age Breaking Our Politics?

03:26 — The Generational Divide Is Reshaping Politics

06:22 — Why Voters Are Choosing Their Own Wallets Over Growth

10:14 — Why Older and Younger Voters Want Different Things

13:17 — Why Politicians Want to Keep Home Prices High

16:08 — Why Young People Are Losing Faith in the System

17:26 — How Economic Frustration Fuels Populism

20:33 — Why Young Voters Are Turning to Extremes

21:03 — How to Make the Economy Work for Young People

Research:

Beer question: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_question 

Vlandas study: https://muse.jhu.edu/article/980470 

German research: https://www.kielinstitut.de/publications/kiel-focus/the-economic-consequences-of-populism/ 

Tobi Lutke’s idea that pensioners be excluded from voting is offensive. The concern behind it isn’t

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/mike-moffatt/ 

Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina Maddeaux

Produced by Meredith Martin

Funded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/