Who Had Harder Lives? Boomers/Gen X vs. Millenials/Gen Z

START THE OUT OF OFFICE SERIES:    • The World You Grew Up In No Longer Exists  

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OUT OF OFFICE is a show created by Stephen Antonioni to explore how work "works" and why it doesn't seem to anymore. Using work as a focal point, the series seeks to open up the conversation around economics so that we can all participate in it together.

Data and Sources:
Data Series (FRED / BLS / S&P / Census)

Income
-Median weekly earnings of full-time male workers (16+ years) — BLS, Current Population Survey (series: LEU0252881600 / via FRED LES1252881600Q for quarterly; or CPS ASEC annual tables).
-Alternative cross-check: Median usual weekly earnings, full-time wage and salary workers (male), BLS CPS.

Basket of Core Costs

Housing
-Median monthly rent: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey / Housing Vacancy Survey (or HUD data).
-Cross-check: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for more recent monthly medians.

Healthcare
-Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored insurance: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Employer Health Benefits Survey.
-Out-of-pocket costs: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), AHRQ.

Transportation
-Average annual cost of owning/operating a car: AAA “Your Driving Costs” report (gas, insurance, maintenance, depreciation).
-New vehicle prices: BLS CPI “New Vehicles” (CUSR0000SETA01).

Food
-USDA “Cost of Food at Home” plans (thrifty/moderate/liberal).
-CPI “Food & Beverages” (CPIFABSL).

Education/Childcare (if included in your modified basket)
-College Board “Trends in College Pricing” (for tuition/fees/room & board).
-CPI “Tuition, other school fees, and childcare” (CUSR0000SEEB).

Modifications for the COTI recalculation:
-Single-Earner Neutral wage (median weekly earnings, 25+, both sexes).
-Employee-only health premium (not full employer+employee).
-Education = Tuition & fees + Housing only (subtract food).
-Federal tax burden explicitly applied (MFJ, 2 kids, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit)