Samuel Moyn's 'Gerontocracy in America' Examines Rule by the Old

Samuel Moyn, a Yale Law School professor, has published a book titled 'Gerontocracy in America,' arguing that older Americans are reshaping the country's politics and economy. The median age in the U.S. has risen from 30 in 1980 to nearly 40 today, with the median voter age at 52 and primary voters at 65. Moyn notes that in 1920, less than 5% of Americans were over 65; by 2060, the A.A.R.P. projects one in four will be. He points to policies favoring seniors, such as tax advantages and homeownership rates over 80% for those aged 70-74. The book critiques the concentration of wealth among older generations and suggests reforms including age limits for political office, mandatory voting, and expanded entitlements for seniors. Critics like Nathan J. Robinson argue the issue is class, not age, noting that 70% of wealth among those over 65 belongs to 10% of seniors. Moyn's work draws on historical context from Napoleon to the present, and discusses the impact of aging on innovation, citing a study of 12 million scientists showing older researchers excel at combinatorial innovation. The book concludes with a call for intergenerational cooperation.