The 2020s have brought a stark reality to many North Americans: upward mobility is becoming increasingly difficult. Rising costs of living, stagnant wages, ballooning student debt, and skyrocketing housing prices have made the traditional promise of “work hard, climb the ladder, achieve financial security” feel like a distant myth for a growing portion of the population.
The Frustration of Stagnation
When people see years of effort fail to translate into tangible progress, resentment builds. Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, face:
Crushing student debt that delays home ownership and wealth accumulation
Rising rents and housing shortages that make long-term stability difficult
Job markets dominated by gig work or underemploymentInflation outpacing wage growth, reducing purchasing power
This stagnation creates a sense of systemic unfairness. Many young North Americans feel that no matter how hard they work, they cannot achieve the wealth and security promised to previous generations.
The Appeal of Communism
Historically, when a significant portion of the population feels blocked from upward mobility, alternative economic systems gain appeal. Communism, or socialism in broader terms, promises:
Redistribution of wealth
Greater equality in opportunity
Social safety nets for education, healthcare, and housing
It becomes attractive not necessarily because people fully understand the economic trade-offs, but because it addresses the frustration and perceived injustice of a system that seems rigged against them.
Generational Shifts
Unlike older generations who may have experienced post-WWII economic growth, today’s younger North Americans are growing up in a world where:
Middle-class wealth is shrinking
Corporate influence dominates politics
Traditional career paths no longer guarantee financial security
The longer this persists, the more young people are likely to embrace collectivist ideologies, seeing them as a solution to systemic barriers
Implications for Society
The rise of anti-capitalist sentiment could reshape politics, business, and culture. Expect more debates over taxation, corporate responsibility, housing, and education. Businesses may face increased scrutiny, while governments may be pressured to implement larger social programs to maintain social stability.If upward mobility remains blocked, the shift toward communism or socialism isn’t just a prediction — it’s an almost inevitable reaction of a population frustrated with systemic stagnation.
North Americans once trusted that effort and ambition would pay off. The erosion of that trust creates fertile ground for alternative economic ideologies. Whether this trend leads to widespread systemic change or just political posturing depends on whether society addresses the root issues: access to opportunity, education, and wealth-building tools.