Credit Suisse has published its 2020 Youth Barometer – a representative survey of 16- to 25-year-olds in Switzerland, the US, Singapore and Brazil
The topics discussed in the media and by politicians in recent months matter to the younger generation: Sustainability and equality are now seen by them as key issues. Young people have developed a new political awareness and want clear solutions. However, they are not calling for a revolution. Current uncertainties around the world – from the coronavirus crisis to concerns about poverty in old age – are causing young people to become more cautious.
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Previous editions of the Credit Suisse Youth Barometer revealed that the stereotype of “apolitical youth” is not always correct. The past two years clearly show that social movements focusing on specific societal themes are emerging more and more frequently and are rapidly spreading around the globe thanks to the reach of digital media and influencers. This creates new opportunities and gives rise to new political power – irrespective of geographical, social or economic barriers. The equality debate has, for example, been followed by the climate movement and then the widespread protests against racism and discrimination.
Solidarity rather than total opposition
Despite criticisms of the status quo and the clear desire for change, the cohort of young people is far from being totally opposed to the establishment and everything it represents. On the contrary, the current coronavirus crisis has clearly demonstrated that the younger generation takes a constructive approach and stands together with other generations in difficult times such as these. “The results show that young people in all countries covered in the survey take a pragmatic view of measures to tackle the coronavirus crisis, and that fundamental criticism of the system is uncommon. The majority of respondents in Switzerland think that the government has performed well in terms of the coronavirus measures it had implemented up to summer 2020,” stated Manuel Rybach, Global Head of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Credit Suisse. He added that in all countries except for the US, the young people surveyed also thought that overall, the crisis has brought society closer together.
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According to the respondents, the early stages of the global pandemic in particular – when masks, medication and other items were in short supply – also exposed the extent of global dependencies. Young people in all four countries therefore want to see greater self-sufficiency at a national level and view the globalization of production processes and supply chains with a degree of skepticism. In addition, the respondents in all four countries want leaders who will implement the measures that have been decided – even if they face some resistance.
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