The B.C. economy may be benefitting people working in areas like real estate and home construction, but it鈥檚 not doing anything to help young people.
That鈥檚 according to a new report released Wednesday by Generation Squeeze, an organization that advocates for young people headed by UBC professor Paul Kershaw.
Rather than look at common economic health factors such as the unemployment rate or gross domestic product, the report looked at the incomes, costs of living and personal debt levels in B.C.
It found that on average, people aged 25 to 44 years old earn $8,000 to $10,000 less today than they did in the late 1970s.
鈥淚t took five years of full-time work to save a 20-per-cent down payment on an average home in 1976 to 80. It took eight years when the B.C. Liberals came to power in 2001,鈥� the report said. 鈥淣ow it takes 19 years.鈥�
It's time we asked instead: what *kind* of growth are we achieving BC? Growth for *whom*?
鈥� Generation Squeeze (@GenSqueeze)
The Liberals have said that programs like the first-time homebuyers loan introduced this January will make it easier for residents to buy into the province鈥檚 real estate market.
Generation Squeeze said the annual rate of economic growth under the Liberals is slightly lower than when the NDP was in office.
The group outlines 10 recommendations, including monitoring and reporting on the age distribution of government spending, levelling the playing field between renters and owners, and revising tax policy to slow the escalation of home prices.
from on .
Like us on and follow us on .
