ASI Bulletin: The kids are(n't) alright!
Everyone wants to know what Gen Z thinks. We decided to poll them and find out.
From Dr Eamonn Butler. Like this Bulletin? Tell your friends. Don’t like it? Tell me.
IN THIS ASI BULLETIN
OUR SHOCKING POLL RESULTS: The anxious young generation
UPCOMING EVENTS: Planning reform, better economic sanctions
ASI AT PARTY CONFERENCES: Better shopping, and more dancing! But first…
But first…
The BBC is asking whether we might have an Autumn of Discontent. (I don’t think they’ve noticed that most people have been discontented for the last fifteen years.)
The GCSE results were announced, with the media featuring lots of kids, thrilled that they can now go to university, rack up massive debt, and get a job at McDonald’s. Ah well.
And Rachel Reeves says she wants to kickstart economic growth. (Talk about kicking someone when they’re down!)
Though I digress...
ASI POLLING
The Anxious Generation
Youth Emigration...
A new ASI poll finds that young Brits (18-30) are deeply anxious about their financial prospects. Top concerns are housing, personal finances - and their future in the UK. Over a quarter have seriously considered or are actively planning to leave the country.
Insecurity...
We also found that young Brits are gripped by insecurity on almost every front. Three-quarters of them believe the risk of the UK being drawn into war has grown, nearly two-thirds are worried about violent crime in their neighbourhood and a similar share think good jobs are becoming harder to find.
Authoritarianism...
Another ASI poll reveals shocking levels of disillusionment with political leaders and institutions. A significant number of young people no longer believe democracy works and many would prefer an authoritarian system led by a decisive figure, even if it meant sacrificing some democratic rights. Ouch!
And Mental Health…
Another of our Anxious Generation polls shows that mental-health worries are widespread among young people. Seven in ten 18-30-year-olds say they currently have, or personally know someone their age who currently has mental health problems.
We partnered with Adam Smith Insights - our new polling and consulting organisation - to run the "Anxious Generation" polling series.
Adam Smith Insights’ work has already achieved extensive media coverage, shaping debate on policy and public opinion. Their team specialises in policy-focused polling, fully compliant with British Polling Council standards.
For enquiries about bespoke polling projects, contact emma@adamsmith.org.
MEDIA
Our Anxious Generation Polling took the media by storm!
The first round of polling on youth emigration was covered in The Telegraph , The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Express, PoliticsHome, The Times, GB News, LBC, Channel 5, Talk TV and a host of other outlets. And, the rest of the polling was similarly popular, making the front page of The Express and appearing in The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, City AM and many other major outlets.
Emma Schubart, our resident polling guru, also penned op-eds discussing our polling for PoliticsHome, The Telegraph and The Critic. Maxwell Marlow, our Director of Public Affairs, had his say in The Spectator.
But it wasn’t just our Anxious Generation Polling that made an impact. James Price, an ASI Senior Fellow, was on the BBC discussing the ONS, while Maxwell Marlow debated the merits of Milei’s government with Medhi Hasan.
The 250th Anniversary of The Wealth of Nations is next year! If you want to help us celebrate, please donate by clicking the link below.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Next Generation with Jack Rankin MP
This month, Jack Rankin MP will speak at our TNG. Jack will outline supply-side reform ideas that could be the key to faster growth, more homes and a country that actually gets things built.
Towards a New Sanctions Framework
The next Enlightenment Evening focuses on the future of economic sanctions, as discussed in our recent paper Financial Five Eyes: Towards A New Sanctions Framework.
As global politics becomes more unstable, the bad guys are finding new ways to circumvent economic sanctions. How can we redesign sanctions to keep up with the times and keep this deterrent working?
ASI AT THE REFORM & LIB DEM CONFERENCES
(Our events at other party conferences will follow)
Revitalise the High Street!
We explain how to revive the UK’s town centres through urban regeneration, a crackdown on counterfeit tobacco and alcohol products and effective strategies to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Get Britain Dancing Again!
Sky-high energy costs, excessive regulations and high taxes are creating a perfect storm for local pub-owners, bar staff and those who want a fun night out. The hospitality industry is in decline. We explore how to change that.
OTHER NEWS
New Zealand's Finance Minister visits the ASI
New Zealand's Finance Minister Nicola Willis MP, her Treasury team, and the acting High Commissioner for New Zealand visited the Adam Smith Institute. They spoke to James Lawson, our Chairman, and Maxwell Marlow about how innovative free-market policies could help the Kiwi economy to grow further.
ON OUR SUPERBLOG
Mitchell Palmer explains that it’s per capita, stupid
Madsen Pirie on the generational divide
Tim Worstall on Gibbons Law
Anna Casey on a culture of fear
Maxwell Marlow on why tuition fees need to be freer
And Finally…
President Trump has sent in the National Guard to deal with crime in Washington. They should start with Congress, the biggest criminals in town (Come to think of it, Mr Trump may well tell them to start with Congress.)
Remember: the best things in life are free. Enjoy them now, because come October, Rachel Reeves will be taxing them.
Bye…
Dr Eamonn Butler
Adam Smith Institute
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As a part of the new generation, I really appreciate taking the time to see what we all think! I also completely agree with what the rest of my generation are feeling.