the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Talking about money is harder than talking about bowel movements, says 28-year-old educator and economics influencer Kyla Scanlon—and she’s not wrong.
Money is personal. It’s tied to our self-worth, reflects our life choices, and exposes our fears and flaws. Yet, despite the flood of financial advice online, many people feel overwhelmed, underinformed, and alienated from the systems that shape their daily lives.
That’s where Scanlon comes in. With sharp economic insight and a dose of TikTok charisma, she’s become Gen Z’s go-to financial educator, blending deep policy analysis with the energy of a meme page.
Who Is Kyla Scanlon?
Kyla Scanlon is a rising economic commentator known for her social media savvy, clear-eyed insights, and a refreshingly human approach to money. She posts daily economic breakdowns across TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to a combined audience of over 600,000 followers.
Her most viral TikTok, which breaks down a tweet from hedge fund legend Michael Burry, has amassed over 700,000 views. She uses this platform not to scold or confuse—but to inform. Scanlon isn’t here to sell you a dream; she’s here to teach you how the system works.
What Is a “Vibecession”?
One of Scanlon’s biggest contributions to modern financial literacy is coining the term “vibecession.” It refers to a disconnect between economic data and how people actually feel.
On paper, the economy might be booming—but rising rent, low homeownership, climate anxiety, and job market instability leave many Gen Zers feeling like they’re stuck in a recession.
“The vibes are off,” Scanlon explains. “Consumer sentiment affects everything—from how we spend to how we vote.”
From Kentucky to MIT Classrooms
Raised in Kentucky during the Great Recession, Scanlon’s curiosity about economics started young. She began trading stock options in high school and studied economics at Western Kentucky University. Despite only holding a bachelor’s degree, she now teaches at elite institutions like MIT and UC Berkeley.
Her path was unconventional, but that’s exactly what makes her voice so relatable to her audience.
Making Economics Cool on Social Media
Scanlon’s TikToks and Instagram Reels are short, smart, and filled with pop culture references. She explains inflation using movie clips from The Big Short, analyzes Fed policy like it’s gossip, and gives digestible lessons on topics like flood insurance, housing markets, and student debt.
What sets her apart? She talks to her audience—not down to them.
“You can’t fix the system until you understand it,” she says.
A New Kind of Economic Thinker
Scanlon has contributed to Bloomberg Opinion, The Financial Times, and The New York Times Opinion, with top economists like Tyler Cowen calling her “a force of nature.”
She doesn’t fit neatly into traditional economic ideologies. She’s not a degrowther and she doesn’t blame Gen Z for their disillusionment. Instead, she encourages an “abundance mindset”—believing in growth, innovation, and building a better world through policy and participation.
Her Book: In This Economy?
In May 2024, Scanlon published her first book, In This Economy?, which serves as an updated, friendlier version of Econ 101. She argues that vibes are the economy and that financial literacy is key to creating a more inclusive future.
In the final chapter, she lays out a bold vision: a world where AI is human-aligned, public investment is prioritized, and growth is used to solve human problems—not just pad profits.
Not Just the Market—The Mission
While many in Gen Z idolize anti-capitalist voices, Scanlon offers a middle path. She doesn’t deny the flaws of capitalism but insists that change is only possible if we learn to engage with the system.
“There is a world where we can have much more than we do now,” she says, “but that world can only come through spending money and growth.”
Whether she’s analyzing housing policy, unpacking unemployment stats, or explaining the latest Fed meeting, Kyla Scanlon brings clarity, nuance, and empathy to a generation craving real answers.
Follow the Ridgewood blog has a brand-new new X account, we tweet good sh$t
https://twitter.com/TRBNJNews
https://truthsocial.com/@theridgewoodblog
https://mewe.com/jamesfoytlin.74/posts
#news #follow #media #trending #viral #newsupdate #currentaffairs #BergenCountyNews #NJBreakingNews #NJHeadlines #NJTopStories
Yes, we know … “Math is Hard”
The rallying cry of the apologist and enabler.