Image credit: Jake Neher/WDET Andre Perry of the Brookings Institution says generational wealth is what really influences student loans. The burden of student debt in this country is crushing millions of Americans’ hopes for financial success and economic freedom. Over $1.6 trillion of student loan debt looms over the economy. Many Americans agree something should be done to remedy the crisis, but disagree on how to go about it. For some, there’s a popular mindset of “I had to take on loans, so you should too.” For others, paying off their student loans will never be a reality without debt cancellation. Some proposals base loan forgiveness on income, but fail to account for wealth disparities in the U.S.