Megan McArdle
A libertarian-leaning columnist who applies sharp, contrarian logic to debates on economics, business, and public policy.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American journalist·Birthday: January 29·Generation X
Biography
Megan McArdle carved a distinct niche in political journalism by questioning conventional wisdom with a data-driven, often libertarian perspective. Born in 1973, she worked in the private sector before turning to blogging, where her clear, argumentative style on sites like The Daily Beast and The Atlantic gained a devoted readership. Now a columnist for The Washington Post, she dissects topics from healthcare and financial crises to technology and culture, frequently challenging both left and right orthodoxies. Her writing is less about partisan allegiance and more about the practical consequences of policy, informed by a deep belief in market forces and individual choice. McArdle's influence lies in her ability to frame complex economic issues in accessible, provocative terms that spark debate beyond the op-ed page.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Megan was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Megan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Megan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Built a prominent career as a columnist and blogger, writing for major outlets like The Atlantic and The Washington Post.
- Authored the book 'The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success,' examining the role of failure in innovation.
- Established herself as a frequent commentator on economic and policy issues on television and radio programs.
- Pioneered a successful transition from business and blogging to mainstream political commentary.
Did You Know?
She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
She worked as a consultant for a time before becoming a full-time writer.
She is married to journalist Peter Suderman, who is also a policy writer.
She was once a vice president at the consulting firm Cantor Fitzgerald.
“The problem is that when we try to make everyone secure against all possible risks, we usually end up reducing the risks that are easiest to manage, while increasing the ones that are hardest to see.”
