Deadweight loss is a term used in economics to describe the economic efficiency loss that occurs when the equilibrium of a market is not socially optimal. It refers to the loss in total surplus that occurs because the quantity of a good or service produced and consumed is not at its socially efficient level.
Similar to the adverse impact of the dead weight loss on a country’s economy, societal deadweight loss can be defined as the emotional surplus that the millennial generation carry with them. This emotional weight or traditions weighs heavily on our physical and metaphysical selves.
There are different kinds of traditions, the good ones have been evidenced based and good for keeping the human race alive for example: listening to our flight and fight response when we’re threatened, not venturing out alone at night in a deserted place, respecting nature and the ecosystem, following body’s circadian rhythm and of course procreating to ensure the human race survives.
However, and of course there is going to be a “however” when we have let our greed for posterity and doggedness towards social and faith -based mores run down the rest of the earthlings and the millennials witnessed it all.
We were there when the world witnessed the aftermath of the dollar -fueled terrorism rise, we were there when the dot com boom blasted us into this semi-real world with social avatars and digital money. We were blessed with wireless calling and instant messaging and then blamed for being the “instant generation.” We were set up for failure with the political and financial corruption and residue from previous wars.
By now you must have guessed that this is a rant.
But this is also a reflection on how the traditions and norms from our past has made our futures weigh so heavy.
Our generation is more easygoing, perhaps because we are more socially conscious and less optics-obsessed than our predecessors. We saw the traditions of excess from previous generations ruin opportunities and create crises that we are now forced to deal with. The housing market crash, climate change, political instability—these are the legacies we’ve inherited.
The traditions we choose to break away from are often those that perpetuate excess and unsustainable living. We’ve seen the woes of unchecked consumerism, in our cluttered living rooms and choosing to opt for minimalism. Many of us are more likely to do intimate weddings with only close family & friends. Instead of career marathons, we run actual marathons and opt for work -life balance. We are mindful parents and indulgent ‘paw’rents.
We’re more likely to advocate for environmental sustainability, gender equity, and social justice. We value experiences over possessions and authenticity over appearances.
So, let this be a rant because we believe in shaking it off!
Fingers in symphony 