Time Allocation Behavior of Twentieth-Century American Generations: GI Generation, Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials

Abstract

In recent years, time engagement behaviors of two generations, namely Baby Boomers and Millennials have sparked much interest because these generations constitute the bulk of the American population today and they also exhibit “atypical” activity–travel patterns compared with other generations. The objective of the current research is to conduct a systematic study of the time engagement behaviors of five American generations: the GI Generation (birth year: 1901–1924), the Silent Generation (birth year: 1925–1943), Baby Boomers (birth year: 1944–1964), Generation X (birth year: 1965–1981), and Millennials (birth year: 1982–2000). Particularly, the study aims at isolating heterogeneity in behaviors associated with structural changes in the society from those associated with inherent generational characteristics. Using data from four waves (1965, 1985, 2005, and 2012) of the American Heritage and Time Use Study, the analysis explores the time engagement behaviors while accounting for the age, period, and cohort effects in addition to different socioeconomic and demographic variables. The analysis reveals that Millennials have generally delayed participation in life-changing events such as marriage and workforce entry, and have exhibited prolonged student status compared with previous generations. Millennials show lower participation in work and higher participation in discretionary activities compared with individuals of the same age group from previous generations. On the other hand, Baby Boomers clearly exhibited increased travel engagement compared with the previous generations at different stages of their lives.