The Gerontocracy Problem: Samuel Moyn

The Gerontocracy Problem: Samuel Moyn

From Future Hindsight by Mila Atmos

June 11, 2026 · 43 min · Season 21 · Episode 400

About this episode

The episode discusses the complications of gerontocracy in American democracy and offers civic action recommendations.

We discuss the overlooked and insidious complications from gerontocracy in American democracy. Sam's civic action toolkit recommendations are: 1) Think of democracy as a political form for transient human beings 2) Evangelize one of these ideas: age quotas, tax code reform, or campaign finance reform Samuel Moyn is the Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University, the cohost of the Digging a Hole podcast, and the author of Gerontocracy in America: How the Old Are Hoarding Power and Wealth – and What to Do About It. Let's connect! Follow Future Hindsight on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurehindsightpod/ Discover new ways to #BetheSpark: https://www.futurehindsight.com/spark Follow Mila on X: https://x.com/milaatmos Follow Sam on X: https://x.com/samuelmoyn Read Gerontocracy in America : https://bookshop.org/shop/futurehindsight Early episodes for Patreon supporters: https://patreon.com/futurehindsight Credits: Host: Mila Atmos Guests: Samuel Moyn Executive Producer: Zack Travis Executive Editor: Mila Atmos

People in this episode

Host: Mila Atmos

Guest: Samuel Moyn

Topics covered

  • gerontocracy
  • American democracy
  • civic action
  • political reform
  • age quotas
  • tax code reform
  • campaign finance reform

Keywords

  • gerontocracy
  • democracy
  • civic action
  • age quotas
  • tax reform
  • campaign finance
  • Samuel Moyn

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yale University, Digging a Hole

Books & works: Gerontocracy in America: How the Old Are Hoarding Power and Wealth – and What to Do About It

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