ANDREW, an unemployed graduate in religious studies and creative writing, lives in Oregon with his parents. He is not alone. Some 21.6m Americans aged 18 to 31–36% of the total–still languish in the parental home, according to the Pew Research Centre, a think-tank. This figure is slightly misleading, since it includes students, who may live at home only during the holidays. Nonetheless, the share of youngsters stuck with mom and pop is the largest since surveys began in 1968.
Andrew hates his situation with “an intense passion”. It is safe and dry and warm, of course, and he appreciates his parents’ help. But he is bored and frustrated and his love life has become “limited” since he moved back in with them. (The fact that his mother won’t let him cook makes preparing romantic meals for two a challenge.)