Generations will always have their differences. Generation X v Generation Y etc etc

It is easy to compare income/costs however what about non-financial value?

Health and life expectancy

Globalization and travel

Academic and learning

Technology

etc

At least these can apply in the first world [1] and even second world. Maybe these are all correlated to money?

[1] http://www.reddit.com/r/firstworldproblems/