Household formation over time: Evidence from two cohorts of young adults

This paper examines how various demographic and economic factors impact household formation both within and across cohorts. The results show substantial differences in the share of young adults living with their parents over time. Differences in demographics, housing costs, and business-cycle conditions can explain as much as 70 percent of the difference in household-formation rates across cohorts, a result driven in large part by increased sensitivity of young adults' household-formation decisions to economic conditions. Changes in parenting styles and shifting social norms likely also play roles.