Young people in industrialized nations have experienced significant changes in the transition to adulthood in past decades. Globalization, via (1) the internationalization and importance of markets, (2) intensified competition, (3) accelerated spread of networks and knowledge through new technologies, and (4) the increasing dependence on random shocks, has transformed the transition to adulthood. The purpose of this paper is to inquire to which extent these changes have influenced young people’s ability to establish themselves as independent adults when making the transition from school to work, to form partnerships, and to become parents. Has globalization produced a fundamental shift in youth behavior as they cope with increasing uncertainty about the future? How do different domestic institutions filter these transformations?