Factors Influencing Youth Culture: Economic changes

The Influence of Economic Changes on Youth Culture

Economic factors play a substantial role in shaping and influencing youth culture in a myriad of ways:

The social and economic status of a young person’s family can greatly impact the manner in which they engage with, and contribute to, youth cultures.
Alterations in the economic climate can lead to shifts in youth culture, as economic hardship or prosperity can influence a youth’s worldview, outlook and behaviour.

The availability and quality of employment opportunities for young people are a significant economic influence on youth culture.
Higher rates of youth unemployment can lead to feelings of disenfranchisement and marginalisation within society, which may result in the emergence of resistant or alternative youth cultures.
Conversely, increased employment opportunities can lead to the development of more aspirational youth cultures where material success and consumerism are emphasised.

Stark wealth disparities have resulted in the existence of vastly different youth cultures reflecting the diverse socioeconomic backgrounds of today’s youth.
For instance, wealthier youths may engage more with luxury and high-end cultural products, while those from low-income backgrounds may align with subcultural styles that reject mainstream consumption.

The advent of globalisation has allowed economic changes in one part of the world to impact youth cultures in another.
Economic interconnectivity has facilitated the global spread of specific youth cultures, fashion, and music styles, often originating from economically dominant Western countries.
However, this can also result in marginalised youth cultures that resist global influences.

The rise of consumer culture and the status of youth as major consumers have a significant influence on youth culture.
The ability of young people to consume and display certain brands or products can be central to their social status within youth cultures.
Moreover, advertising and media play a big role in shaping youth consumer behaviour, which in turn impacts youth culture.

The level of material resources that young people have access to can shape youth cultures.
Youths with access to more resources (like technology or fashionable clothing) have more options to participate and shape youth culture.
In contrast, those with fewer resources may be excluded from mainstream youth culture, or may develop alternative cultures that reject materialism.