Germans primarily associate enjoyment with indulgences, vacations, and the opportunity to spend time with themselves and others. For almost everyone, good food is a pleasure. But sweets, coffee, meat, tea, and alcohol are also appreciated by a majority. Besides these "classic" indulgences, vacations are also a source of enjoyment and are considered one of life's special pleasures by almost nine out of ten Germans.
Three out of four Germans currently desire more moments of enjoyment in their lives, significantly more than just a few years ago. While the topic of enjoyment might initially bring to mind indulgences, Germans also value time for themselves and peace and quiet, in addition to good food. This episode explores what Germans understand by enjoyment. Which indulgences are popular, what hinders enjoyment, and what do they need to truly experience pleasure?
In times of increasing globalization and a growing shortage of skilled workers, the innovative capacity and creative contributions of employees within companies are gaining in importance. The immense creative potential that lies dormant in the minds of employees in German companies will be indispensable in the future. More than half of all citizens even envision a new professional field for "idea managers" within companies.
The four-day workweek is widely discussed in Germany and is often seen by the younger generation as an ideal scenario for modern working conditions that would make life easier. A shift in values has taken place, and work is no longer half of life. In this episode, learn about the advantages of reduced working hours, why most concerns are unfounded, and where and how it is already being successfully implemented.
Currently, one in three Germans regularly engages in gardening – meaning at least once a week. In 2019, it was only one in four, and while only one in five city dwellers pursues this hobby, the figure is twice as high in rural areas. This hobby is expected to continue growing in popularity.
The introduction of a 4-day week with full pay is the subject of intense debate in Germany. While employers, associations and political parties tend to be sceptical, almost two thirds of German citizens think it is a good idea. This is the result of a recent study by the BAT Foundation for Future Studies, for which over 2,000 German citizens aged 18 and over were surveyed.
Financial provision for old age is a key issue in a society in which life expectancy is steadily increasing and the birth rate is falling. This is because the statutory pension will simply no longer be enough for many people. As a result, more and more people are showing an interest in high-yield investments such as shares and funds in order to strengthen their retirement provision.
The birth rate in Germany, at 1.36 children per woman, is too low to halt population decline. Approximately 2.1 children per woman would be needed to achieve this. The reasons for this are manifold, ranging from financial burdens and a lack of government support to fear of divorce and single parenthood.
At a time when the use of ChatGPT and similar programmes continues to increase, the development of artificial intelligence is the subject of controversial debate. A slight majority (54%) of the population expects AI to bring major changes to life in the future and considers developments in this field to be groundbreaking for the future.
Four out of five citizens are willing to continue their education throughout their lives. There are only slight differences within the population, with the self-employed showing a slightly higher willingness and the unemployed a slightly lower one. Contrary to this positive attitude, only around half of the population currently takes part in further training programmes at least once a year.
Foundation for Future Studies | Contact us | Legal notice | Data protection
Foundation for Future Studies | Contact us | Legal notice | Data protection
