>>212441600It was worse for most of history if you actually analyze the economic realities of people.
Most things are cheaper than ever in relation to salaries, the only two things that have gotten more expensive are:
Housing, because urbanization is in a historical high so demand of housing is through the roof and housing is not being built to satiate this demand, the reason why housing is not being built is multifaceted, but I think the main two culprits are NIMBYs and house owners that want to increase the value of their wealth so they support harsher regulation to buildings.
Taxes, taxes are in an all time high because there are more pensioners than ever and those pensioners are being paid more than ever.
If you compare life nowadays in Western countries to for example the 90s, people nowadays have a harder time getting access to housing, rent and buying is both more expensive than ever before, but if you look at their consumption, people nowadays eat more food, buy more clothing and enterntainment of all kinds.
If you look at what car you could buy with for example 1 year of minimum salary now or in the 90s, the car you could buy now would have relatively less prestige, but it would be better, it would probably come with air conditioning, a sound system (there was a time were people would steal those because they were expensive so some people would take them out of their car after parking), and have a more powerful engine.
I understand that there are many reasons to complain about the economic situation we face, specially in countries like Portugal or Spain where the lack of access to housing infantilizes people who without housing can't form their families and live like children until their 30s, but in many aspects there have been way, way worse economic situations to live in.
Continue later.