Short term-ism is a problem with 5 year span government and it is also a problem for those who imagine the world will continue as it is, or worse think leaving the EU will return us to a sacrosanct world of the 1950s and a rush to take up employment as hairdressers!
There is always a complaint about links so before I post the link to the World Economic Forum report 2020 which sets out in some detail how the world may change in the near future with attention paid to climate change, data fraud, cyberattacks, water crises, political upheaval and war , I will just copy a short paragraph:
"The global economy is showing signs of vulnerability (see Chapter 2, The Fraying Fundamentals). At the time of writing, the IMF expected growth to be 3.0% in 2019—the lowest rate since the economic crisis of 2008-2009.7 At a time when global coordination in the form of more efficient
trade could help boost growth, trade has instead been turned into an instrument for rivalry. (So a return to trading in goods is going to throw the UK into quite a challenging environment) The World Trade Organization (WTO) projected that growth in merchandise trade will slow to 1.2% in 2019 from 3.0% in 2018."
And a further paragraph that pays attention to the somewhat bizarre question about youth:
"In the long term, the mobilization of youth could lead to a new green social contract reordering political and business
life, as today’s striking children gradually become tomorrow’s voters, workers, investors and consumers. Politicians will seek to attract them through policies such
as the Green New Deal legislation that has been proposed in the United States.
As today’s youth demand jobs that are compatible with their concern about climate change, workforce climate activism may become more common, and companies
without strong environmental credentials could struggle for talent. Lastly, as consumers, the new generation of climate
crusaders will make more sustainable lifestyle choices, such as eating plant-based diets or flying less, and demand more low carbon goods."
here's the link: www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Risk_Report_2020.pdf
My three young adult children, now professionals, and their peers certainly valued education and many of them are now directing their efforts to qualifications and work experience that will enable them to work somewhere other than the UK. The future for the relatively badly educated youngsters from difficult or disadvantaged backgrounds is grim.
Frankly, I'd give more credence to a report put together by an independent, international organisation than to newspapers, most of whom, are tabloids in approach even if they are published in a different format!