First the Ring, then the Roof
April 17, 2026
Pundits and policymakers often look at problems facing Americans as isolated challenges. And while individual policy changes—from the tax code to zoning reform—can make it easier for the rising generation to realize the American dream, the attainability of the dream has a deeper, more fundamental driver: marriage.
A decade ago, more than half of Americans believed in the American dream. Today, only 1 in 3 do, according to a recent Wall Street Journal poll. A majority of Americans believe key features of the dream—homeownership, stable work and simple prosperity—are harder to obtain than they once were. Pessimism about the future runs especially deep, with more than 3 in 4 Americans saying they expect the next generation to fare worse than they have.
