This has been an Econ topic of discussion the last few day:
Larry Summers: There is some social phenomenon which I suspect explains non work, non marriage, deaths of despair, general alienation and, I suspect, the rise of reactionary populism. It should be a major task of social science to understand it.
It seems like these are caused by the obvious things but that no one wants to acknowledge.
Non-work: Smaller and more affluent families are more willing and able to support a non-worker. Also black males have become a larger part of the population and at least since the 1960 have had a more sensible (Keynesian 15 hour work week) view of work leisure balance.
Marriage: The most obvious reason for fall in marriage/rise single motherhood stands, women have better options now than staying with less desirable men.
I was talking to group of committed Christians recently and I mentioned that today if a girl gets pregnant people say she not make a second mistake, and surprisingly to me, they agreed that shoe shouldn't.
Even very religious people want their daughters to go to college, and not just to meat a nice husband but to build a career.
Deaths of despair: Deaths of despair is IMHO a myth. While it's true that WV was number one in opioid deaths New Hampshire was number two. We should admit that some people really love to get high, some more that life itself. Robin Hanson has noted that drug overdoes deaths have doubled each decade at least since 1970 and maybe 1940.
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