Intergenerational dynamics of quality of life as a factor in the transformation of electoral behavior of young Americans

In the framework of the presented study, the paper studies the question of the influence of the factor of intergenerational dynamics of quality of life on the voting behavior of young Americans. The empirical basis of the study was built by summarizing data from quantitative studies of leading sociological centers in the United States. The methodological basis of the work is formed through a combination of elements of comparative and structural analysis. The authors conclude that significant declines in key quality of life indicators lead to changes in political orientation and voting patterns among the majority of young Americans, especially generation Z. Rising costs of higher education and housing, as well as difficulties in repaying student loans and saving, lead to declines in lives of young people compared to older age groups. This causes a decline in unconditional loyalty to the two major political parties and a rise in the number of independent voters who now make up the majority among millennials and Generation Z. Despite this, most young Americans are more sympathetic to the Democratic Party. The party is more supportive of partial student loan forgiveness and has taken more palatable positions on other issues important to young people, such as gun control, climate change and abortion. President Trump's success in the 2016 election helped mobilizing young voters to participate in the 2018-2022 elections. However, Democrats' failure to deliver on most campaign promises has significantly reduced their support among this age group. This could potentially lead to lower turnout among young Americans in future elections.