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In his latest book, Nadie elige cuándo nace, economist Daniel Fuentes argues that, although today's young people start with more favorable economic conditions than previous generations, they face greater difficulties in materializing their aspirations for prosperity. The book, published in 2026, examines how the current economic and social environment, rather than the initial situation of each individual, determines the capacity of young people to achieve personal stability and growth objectives.
The Context of Generosity in Pensions
The theme of generosity in pensions has been widely debated in recent years, especially in contexts of population aging and pressure on social safety nets. Fuentes, an economist teaching at a Spanish university and author of multiple publications on finance and development, argues that the belief that greater generosity in pensions implies a greater economic abundance is incorrect.
According to the content of his book, generosity in pensions does not necessarily translate into greater prosperity for young people. Instead, it can generate structural dependency that limits the capacity of young people to assume financial responsibilities, such as education investment, housing, or entrepreneurship.
The Initial Situation of Today's Youth
According to Fuentes, today's young people start from a more favorable economic situation than their predecessors. This is due to factors such as more widespread access to the internet, higher education, and digital services, as well as greater availability of information and technological tools.
Additionally, the growth of the digital economy has allowed many young people to access remote jobs, work platforms, and non-traditional income opportunities. This has generated greater labor flexibility and a higher possibility of diversifying income sources.
Nevertheless, Fuentes points out that these advantages do not automatically translate into a greater capacity to achieve economic stability objectives. The labor market structure, employment pressure, and professional uncertainty continue to be determining factors in the lives of young people.
The Difficulty in Materializing Expectations
The book of Fuentes highlights that, despite the more favorable conditions, today's young people face greater difficulties in converting their aspirations for prosperity into reality. This is due to a combination of factors: the scarcity of stable jobs, high competition in the labor market, pressure on consumption, and the lack of access to appropriate financial resources.
The author argues that the current pension system, although more generous, does not resolve the roots of the problem. Instead, it may reinforce a mindset of dependency, in which young people expect the social system to provide stability, without developing skills or personal strategies to build a sustainable economic life.
The relationship between pensions and personal development
Fuentes emphasizes that prosperity is not solely measured by income level or access to social services, but by the capacity of individuals to make financial decisions, plan their future, and take on risks. In this sense, generosity in pensions does not guarantee that young people can develop these skills.
The author points out that in many cases, young people do not receive appropriate training in personal finance, saving, investment, and career planning, which limits their ability to achieve prosperity goals.
The role of education and training
One of the central points of the book is the importance of financial education as a key tool for personal development. Fuentes argues that if young people do not receive appropriate training in money management, saving, investment, and career planning, their ability to achieve prosperity goals is severely limited.
In this sense, the author criticizes that many universities and educational centers do not include content on personal finance in their programs. This creates a gap between theoretical knowledge and practice, where young people learn to use technology but do not effectively manage their personal finances.
Implications for the pension system
The implications of this reflection are profound for the design of pension systems. If the system focuses solely on generosity, without considering the development of personal competencies, it may generate a cycle of dependency that affects future generations.
Fuentes suggests that pension systems should integrate elements that promote financial education, labor training, and the development of personal skills. This would allow young people not only to depend on the system but also to build a more autonomous economic life.
The future of personal prosperity
The author concludes that personal prosperity is not an automatic result of favorable economic conditions. It is a process that requires education, discipline, access to information, and a culture of financial responsibility.
In an environment where economic growth is measured by consumption and access to goods, true prosperity lies in the capacity of individuals to manage their resources, make informed decisions, and build a sustainable future.
Critique of the current pension model
The book by Fuentes does not only analyze the conditions of the young but also questions the current pension model. Although these systems offer security in old age, their design may be misaligned with the real needs of people in their adult life.
The author points out that many pensions are designed from a passive stability perspective, in which the individual does not actively participate in the construction of their economic future. This contrasts with the reality of a constantly changing world, where adaptability and innovation are key to personal success.
Conclusion: Prosperity as responsibility
In the last chapter of Nadie elige cuándo nace, Fuentes presents that prosperity is not a gift of the system, but a result of personal and collective decisions. Generosity in pensions does not mean that young people can achieve a life of abundance, but they must develop the necessary tools to build a sustainable economic life.
The central message of the book is clear: for young people to realize their aspirations of prosperity, it is necessary an approach that combines solid public policies, effective financial education, and a social culture that values personal responsibility over structural dependency.