Living well instead of having a lot. How the next generation will live

The affluent society is releasing its children into an uncertain future. The level of prosperity is falling across the board. And the welfare state is facing financial difficulties. From the perspective of the young generation up to and around the age of thirty, it will be "much more difficult for them to live as securely and prosperously as their parents' generation today" (71%). Nevertheless, 14 to 34-year-olds do not want to miss out on life: Despite economic, educational and environmental crises, most young people want to "make the best of life" (58%) and not let their optimism about the future be taken away. This is the result of a recent representative survey conducted by the BAT Foundation for Future Studies, in which 2,000 people aged 14 and over were asked how they view their personal future.
"The next generation is inheriting a difficult legacy. They will have to find answers to the question of how they can maintain and secure their prosperity even in times of 'zero growth' and 'zero rounds'," says Prof Dr Horst W. Opaschowski, Scientific Director of the BAT Foundation for Future Studies and author of the new book "Rethinking Prosperity", which is now being published by Gütersloher Verlagshaus. "The next generation is living a new serenity: it neither dreams of material abundance nor fears existential hardship. This neither-nor generation simply redefines its prosperity: wealthy people are those who are satisfied with themselves and can live well and happily." The young generation is modest: The majority of them primarily want to be healthy (55%) and happy (52%) and to be able to live carefree (63%) and securely: "Having a secure income" is more important to the next generation (79%) than "having a lot of money" (50%) or being rich.
There is a new focus on what is sustainable. And this is less and less just a question of money. The young generation's new way of thinking about prosperity is based on sustainability. Instead of "well-being", it is more about "wellbeing". Only this guarantees prosperity in the sense of well-being and is no longer solely dependent on economic cycles and stock market prices. Opaschowski: "It's about the success of life and has more to do with quality of life than standard of living. This generation of new seekers of meaning wants to know little about renouncing consumption, but all the more about the intrinsic value of consumption. And that can also mean Living well instead of having a lot!"

"Mutual community" as a new social ideal.
Turning away from the society of egos

The 14 to 34-year-olds do not feel like a generation of the "pinched" (Peer Steinbrück 2009), even if their standard of living is falling. Opaschowski: "This generation has a positive view of its own future. They are starting with themselves and changing their lifestyle. They live precariously, but are crisis-proof. They help themselves first instead of waiting for help from others." To do this, she goes in search of a balance in life: she wants to achieve something in life. Of course, she also wants to enjoy life. But the desire to help others is remarkably strong in the younger generation."
The thirty-something generation is experiencing being dependent on one another. They no longer want to simply leave all social problems to the state or politicians. "They want a better society," says Professor Opaschowski. "And also wants to help create a better society." The society of egos has outlived its usefulness in times of crisis. The new social ideal is more like a mutual community: everyone benefits from each other.

Crisis professionals: "Make the best of life!"

The next generation will be a pragmatic generation - with clear life goals, but without ideologies. A clear majority of 14 to 34-year-olds (58%) want to "make the best of life" even in times of crisis. And this is what their concrete suggestions for overcoming the crisis look like:

• A good third of the younger generation (34%) want to continue receiving state social benefits in the future, but are also prepared to do more charitable work in return. The aim is to achieve a balance between giving and taking.
• Just under a quarter of young people (22%) think it is natural to help themselves and each other more. The next generation thinks about others because this is the only way they can look after themselves. "This is a form of calculated helpfulness, not pure charity. In times of crisis, they have to pull together, whether they want to or not," says Professor Opaschowski.
• Fewer and fewer families can live on just one income. This is why the next generation wants to get serious about balancing work and family life as dual employment increases. Almost one in four (23%) no longer wants to sacrifice one area of life in favour of the other in the future. Work and private life should be equally weighted.
• Half of all young people (50%) anticipate poverty in old age. A good fifth of the young generation (22%) therefore already want to make provisions for the future and "place more emphasis on the extended family" - from intergenerational living to mutual child and elderly care.

Intergenerational relationships are becoming increasingly important. A renaissance of the extended family is emerging; however, this does not have to be a household community. The new multi-generational family is more like a reliable social network of care and concern, of looking after each other, including regular telephone and visiting contacts. This is also ensured by a variety of transfers between the generations - above all monetary and material gifts from the older generation and more personal help and errands from the younger generation. Professor Opaschowski: "Intergenerational relationships are here to stay. One of the most sustainable resources of the future will be the new solidarity between the generations."

Sources of supply

The book HORST W. OPASCHOWSKI "Rethinking prosperity. How the next generation will live" is available in bookshops.
ISBN 978-3-579-06878-7
Gütersloher publishing house 2009
19,95 Euro