A Letter from the Founder of a Research Organization to Generation Z: Five Survival Rules to Help Young People Stand Out

Reflexivity Research Co-Founder Will Clemente recently published a lengthy article titled “Climbing a Broken Ladder,” exploring the economic and social pressures faced by today’s young people from the perspective of a 23-year-old Generation Z individual. He points out that the traditional social contract of “hard work leads to upward mobility” is gradually breaking down, influenced by factors such as industry shifts, the financialization of education, monetary policy, and AI technology impacts. Clemente also offers suggestions for both individuals in Generation Z and government policymakers, aiming to provide direction in this era of uncertainty.

(When effort no longer guarantees a future: How can trapped young generations turn things around through long-term speculation and betting on the casino?)

Who is Will Clemente?

Will Clemente is a rapidly rising analyst and investor in the fields of cryptocurrency and macro markets. He is also one of the co-founders of Reflexivity Research, a research organization. Currently, he works in the investment and strategy department at the over-the-counter trading platform STIX.

He is known for combining on-chain data analysis with macroeconomic narratives, focusing extensively on Bitcoin and related markets, and building a broad influence through social media platform X and podcasts. As a member of Generation Z, his article centers on the structural dilemmas and survival strategies of young people under the current economic and social systems.

Why Is the Social Contract Collapsing? Four Major Reasons for Generation Z’s Predicament

First, he believes that the path of “study hard → find a good job → buy a house and accumulate assets → live a good life” is no longer effective for Generation Z. This generation faces more intense job competition, higher housing and asset prices, and the concentration of most assets in the hands of previous generations. The reasons can be summarized as follows:

Outsourcing of labor and manufacturing decline

Clemente notes that the U.S. relied on manufacturing in the mid-20th century to create numerous jobs. However, after the signing of NAFTA and China joining the WTO, companies moved manufacturing abroad to cut costs, reducing middle-class job opportunities domestically.

This shift temporarily benefited corporations and asset holders but long-term weakened the income and economic security of the working class.

Government-backed student loans changing education incentives

Another controversial point is that government-backed student loans have removed price competition from universities. This policy allows universities to raise tuition freely without affecting enrollment, and they often reinvest these profits into endowments. Meanwhile, young people bear the risk of student debt. While increasing access to education, this also leads to immediate post-graduation debt burdens.

Charts comparing return on investment (ROI) for various degrees (average student debt at graduation vs. first-year salary) raise questions about the effectiveness of government policies that provide indiscriminate student loans.

Monetary policy boosting asset prices

Clemente views the loose monetary policies following the 2008 financial crisis as a turning point. Government bailouts and low interest rates have driven up stock and real estate prices, benefiting existing asset holders but raising barriers for newcomers and delaying wealth accumulation for young people:

Ultimately, Generation Z bears the cost, filling the gap between “natural market prices” and “policy-driven inflated asset prices,” along with the moral hazards of market interventions.

He also criticizes that as more top tech companies choose to remain private longer and only go public after reaching valuations in the hundreds of billions, retail investors have fewer opportunities to profit from investments.

The time from startup to IPO continues to lengthen, often resulting in private markets setting the price discovery for promising new companies.

(When public companies’ growth slows: How private firms threaten capitalism)

AI and automation bringing new employment competition

Beyond globalization, Clemente believes AI and automation will impact both white-collar and blue-collar jobs, increasing employment market uncertainty in the future.

(AI too successful? Institutions simulate 2028: unemployment exceeds 10%, S&P drops 38%)

How Can Young People Break Through? Five Recommendations for Generation Z

Clemente offers several suggestions for young people:

Reevaluate the ROI of education: When choosing degrees or educational paths, focus more on actual income potential rather than following traditional routes blindly.

Invest in scarce assets to hedge against currency dilution: Allocate disposable income into scarce or long-term value assets such as gold, Bitcoin, real estate in growth regions, and resilient publicly traded companies.

Actively embrace AI technology: AI is not just a tool but a key to boosting productivity and competitiveness. The earlier you master it, the greater your advantage.

Build personal distribution and influence: Develop a personal brand through social media and engage audiences to enhance your value and bargaining power in the digital economy.

Stay flexible and informed: In a rapidly changing tech and financial environment, continuous learning and real-time trend awareness are crucial core skills.

(Five tips from AI company CEOs on how to adapt as white-collar jobs are eliminated within five years)

Policy reform directions: from tax cuts to opening private markets

On the policy front, he offers some conservative ideas:

Provide tax support for young people: Lowering their tax burden can help accelerate wealth accumulation.

Reform accredited investor rules: Reconsider restrictions on retail participation in private markets to give young investors more opportunities while maintaining appropriate protections.

Adjust student loan systems: Reintroduce private market involvement in loan approval to improve risk assessment and pricing discipline.

Lower interest rates and increase housing supply: While this can improve affordability, managing to prevent a collapse in current housing prices remains a challenge.

Universal Basic Income (UBI): If AI causes large-scale industry shifts, some form of basic income policy could be considered.

Finding New Survival Strategies in an Uncertain Era

Finally, Clemente emphasizes that his article does not offer specific solutions but aims to clarify the rapidly changing world for Generation Z. He believes that their difficulties stem not only from personal effort but also from systemic, technological, and financial environment factors.

In this context, individual strategies and policy reforms will both play vital roles in shaping future opportunities for the next generation.

This article is a letter from a research organization founder to Generation Z: Five survival principles to help young people stand out. Originally published on Chain News ABMedia.