It seems more like a cumulative effect than one cause. Rising costs [of housing, health care, education, etc], stagnant wages, loss of retirement support, incre

It seems more like a cumulative effect than one cause. Rising costs [of housing, health care, education, etc], stagnant wages, loss of retirement support, increased dependence on credit, recessions, and a continued disposable consumerism, all have an effect not just on personal wealth, but what one's wealth can do. And I don't think people were significantly more financially literate 20 years ago.