Which generation are you in – the lucky ones or the left-behinds?

Your birth year shapes your financial prospects far more than you might think, according to new research from the University of Turku. While incomes, consumption, and wealth have generally risen, not all generations have benefited equally, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Esa Karonen, a senior researcher at the University of Turku, has identified one clear “winner” generation and one that has fallen behind. Using data from Statistics Finland, the Finnish Tax Administration, and the Population Association of Finland, Karonen analysed trends in income, employment, debt, education, and family life across age groups born between 1945 and 2010.

The findings reveal stark differences in economic security, career stability, and even relationship patterns between generations. Baby boomers, represented in the report by MP Ben Zyskowicz, generally enjoyed strong job markets and rising homeownership. Generation X, exemplified by finance professor Vesa Puttonen, benefited from economic growth and technological advances. Meanwhile, younger millennials (Generation Y) like Vantaa city councillor Eva Tawasoli face higher housing costs and precarious employment, while Generation Z—including content creator Markku Keski-Oja—contends with student debt and an unpredictable labour market.

The data also tracks cultural shifts, such as how people meet partners (increasingly online for younger cohorts) and even the most popular music of each generation’s formative years. However, Karonen notes that older and younger age groups outside the 1945–2010 range lack sufficient detailed records for comparison.

Yle’s interactive feature allows readers to input their birth year for a tailored breakdown of their generation’s economic and social trends. The report builds on a December 2023 investigation by Yle Svenska, which examined love, money, and leisure across generations.