The "baby boomers" are a significant demographic today, whether you are in government forming policy or in business, hoping to capitalize on the latest baby boomer trends. The first step in understanding these generations is to define what the baby boomer years are and why they occurred. This article will delve into history to find out how the baby boomer years began and why are continue to play an important role in our country today.

What are the Baby Boomer Years?
Although there is no hard and fast definition of a baby boomer, the general consensus is that the baby boomer birth years were between 1946 and 1964. During these two decades following the end of World War II, there was a significant rise in birth rates. because of the large numbers of people born between these years, the impact of the baby boomer years on our country is still occurring. In 2009, there are about 76 million baby boomers in the United States, which makes up about 29% of the general population.

There are many theories as to why the population exploded during the baby boomer years. The general thought is that after World War II, there was a large influx of soldiers returning home. The newly established GI Bill made it possible for those veterans to purchase homes and complete higher education. They also got married and started families in the pursuit of the American Dream that had been rather elusive during the Great Depression and a particularly challenging war.

In addition to the population growth, the country saw other changes during the baby boomer years. The suburbs came into existence as families moved away from the big cities and embraced track housing and strip malls. As couples settled down into their suburban lifestyle, it was not unusual for a majority of women in a single community to become pregnant at the same time. As more and more children were born, there was a greater need for an infrastructure in those suburban communities that included schools and shopping malls.

The impact of the baby boomer years is still being felt today. The large amount of our population born during the baby boomer years are now reaching the middle to later years of life, producing a whole new set of needs within this demographic. Savvy businessmen tune into the needs of those born during the baby boomer years if they want to see success in their companies. The government must accommodate those born during the baby boomer years with more programs and assistance designed just for them.

The baby boomer years have played a significant role in recent history, and will continue to do so as long as those generations of baby boomers continue to make an impact. Baby boomers affect all aspects of our country, from the ways we do business to the government programs established.