The potential impact of young voters on the 2024 general election

There is a sense amongst the young British electorate that they are powerless in affecting change in politics, especially through their vote. However, Toby Whelton, IF researcher, argues that while the odds may be stacked against them, there is still real potential for the young to shape the upcoming election.

General Election: Intergenerational inequality is the elephant in the room, not debates about tax

IF supporter, Daniel Harrison, asks why politicians are deliberately avoiding the really big issue facing our country? General election tax promises Observing political parties squabble about the precise level of taxation needed in the run up to the General Election,  one would think that taxation is either the problem or the panacea that will solve… Read more »

Census 2021: An Ageing Society

Sylvan Lutz, IF researcher, analyses the latest England and Wales census population data released. Ageing population Census 2021 has confirmed what demographers have long been warning: the population of England and Wales is ageing. On the one hand, a miracle of modern society has led to longer lifespans; on the other, slowing birth rates alleviate… Read more »

Australia needs a parliamentary inquiry into intergenerational fairness

Thomas Walker is the Economist-in-Residence at Think Forward. Think Forward is an advocacy group for young Australians who want to see issues of intergenerational fairness front and center in Australian policymaking. In this article for IF’s Worldwide Blog Week, Thomas argues that a parliamentary inquiry would reap great benefits for younger generations in Australia. Youth… Read more »

When the old suffer too: the cycle of intergenerational inequality

Danny Dorling is the Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography of the School of Geography and the Environment of the University of Oxford, and the author of many books including All That Is Solid, Inequality and the 1%, and Injustice: why social inequality persists. In this blog, he explains how inequality between older and younger generations… Read more »

Never had it so good: the Platinum Jubilee generation

Robert Ashton, IF supporter, writes about how fortunate his Platinum Jubilee generation – born around the time that Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne – has been. Having reached 75 I wish somebody would tell me the purpose of old age. Some more worthy than myself will doubtless say that they care for their… Read more »

Ageism through the ages and the wellbeing of future generations

The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing recently launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness of problems of ageism. IF Student Intern, Hanna Burt, considers the suggestions made, and discusses how they could be put into practice in the UK. Global Report on Ageism The United Nations has for the first time expanded the definition… Read more »

The social care cap and the intergenerational contract

On 7 September 2021, the government announced reforms to the social care system in order to provide more support to people with fewer financial resources. A recent announcement on 17 November 2021 casts doubt on whether these reforms will be worth the costs borne by younger generations. John Hobby, IF researcher, investigates whether this is… Read more »

What does fewer births mean for intergenerational fairness?

Conceptions are falling in England and Wales. Liz Emerson, IF Co-founder, looks at the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)  Latest data released by the ONS show a 2.1% fall in the number of conceptions in England and Wales between 2018 and 2019. This was the largest annual decrease since 2012.… Read more »