To clear the air: squek is on record as denying that age gap is at the center of the shidduch crisis.
However, so long as these two facts have yet to be disproven,
1. Considerabel Population growth whic = significantly more 19 yr olds than 22.5 yr olds.
2. Girls start dating at 19 boys at 22.5.
It seems like the contributors to this thread have by and large come to realize the obvious truth of these two facts.
I am open to honest debate on it. If no one has any arguments as disprove the validity of these two points, then onwards with the discusion as how to effectively close the age gap.
Oh, by the way there is some very solid anectodatal evidence suggesting that the push to raise awareness has ALREADY yielded hundreds of close in age shidduchim that in all likelyhood (as testified by mothers of the boys) would never have happened.
GAW: If it comes to that, they we will have no choice. I for one am no way near giving up on trying to encourage many more close in age shidduchim and thus many more marriages over all.