Harvard Poll: 42% of Young Americans Struggle Financially as Civic Engagement Drops

A Harvard Institute of Politics poll released April 23 found that 42% of Americans aged 18–29 reported serious financial hardship, including difficulty affording food, housing, or healthcare. The survey also documented a sharp decline in civic participation — voting intention, community involvement, and trust in institutions — correlating financial stress with political disengagement among the generation most affected by student debt, housing costs, and wage stagnation.