The State Were in

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The State Were in
ben.page_at_ipsos-mori.com
0207 347 3242
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Some trends in society

• A polarised and more diverse society less
  stable
• More feminised but also gender-blurred
• Celebrity culture and instant gratification
• A culture of fear immigration, asylum, 9/11,
  moral panics over teenagers
• Ongoing march of technology generation gaps
• Decline of deference
• Decline of the professions rise of inspection
  and central measurement
• Live longer but iller and fatter dependency
  squeeze
• The rise of turbo consumerism and polysensuality
• The end of rises in public sector spending need
  for more individual responsibility
• Producing anxiety a major challenge

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Control and chaos in the new media age
Julian Thompson, Ipsos MORI Horizons
Technology Event, Energy Clinic, April 17th 2007
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Our species endless desire to extend our
influence beyond natural constraints
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control
The dream
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A crisis of control Everyone and no one
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Look what it can do to you
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compare, buy, share, meet, roam, work,
consume, make, profit, trade, search, enjoy,
indulge, anon., create,info
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are we really freer and happier?
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The rise of happiness
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Even politicians are in on the act
Well being cant be measured by money or traded
in markets. Its about the beauty of our
surroundings, the quality of our culture, and
above all, the strength of our relationships.
Improving our societys sense of well-being is, I
believe, the central political challenge of our
lives.
David Cameron, May 2006
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Money and Happiness
Average National Income Level
National Happiness Level
Source World Values Study
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Money only buys so much happiness.
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What makes us happy?

• If you want to be happy for a few hours, get
  drunk. If you want to be happy for a few years,
  get a wife. If you want to be happy forever, get
  a garden

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Some things that turn out to increase happiness

• Get married
• Become richer than your peer group
• Join a religion, and attend meetings at least
  monthly, if not weekly.
• Find some extra leisure time and spend more time
  with friends and family
• Get a degree
• Visit your GP for a health test the healthier,
  the happier
• Live to a ripe old age being middle aged is
  just depressing

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Who are the happiest people in Europe?
Not Satisfied
Very Satisfied
Fairly Satisfied
Portugal
Greece
Italy
Germany
France
Spain
Austria
EU 15
Belgium
Finland
UK
Ireland
Netherlands
Sweden
Luxembourg
Denmark
Source Standard Eurvobarometer 65 Spring 2006
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Danes happier, us less so

Very satisfied with their lives Europe 1973-2006
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unless you feel better it doesnt count will
technology achieve this?
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Internet access is plateauing who is left
behind?
with internet access at home or at work, 4th
quarter 2006
Source Ipsos MORI Social Issues OmnibusBase c.
10,000 GB adults 15, Oct-Dec 2006 (compared to
c. 12,000 GB adults 15, Jan-Mar 2005)
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How much are we really changing?
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When you were at school, what did you really want
or hope to do?
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Ideal job or occupation
Q Thinking back to when you were at secondary
school which of the following job or occupation
categories most closely matches what you really
wanted or hoped to do when you left school? Top
5 selections
Something professional which you need a degree to
do
Something else professional
Something creative, artistic or sporting
Skilled tradesman/woman
Something involving personal service
Base 1,997 British adults, 22-26 June 2006,
Ipsos MORI Omnibus for the Sutton Trust/the
Treasury
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Aspirations are highly class related
Something professional which you need a degree to
do
All (secondary school)
ABs
C1/C2s
DEs
Base 1,997 British adults, 22-26 June 2006,
Ipsos MORI Omnibus for the Sutton Trust/the
Treasury
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What do you think your childwill end up doing?
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Ideal job or occupation
Something professional which you need a degree to
do
All
ABs
C1/C2s
DEs
Base 1,997 British adults, 22-26 June 2006,
Ipsos MORI Omnibus for the Sutton Trust/the
Treasury
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Ideal job or occupation
Skilled tradesman/woman
All
ABs
C1/C2s
DEs
Base 1,997 British adults, 22-26 June 2006,
Ipsos MORI Omnibus for the Sutton Trust/the
Treasury
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Some Conclusions

• Polarisation, globalisation and migration
• UK unskilled face huge challenge
• Social class remains a very strong limiter of
  achievement
• Need for investment in skills but also raising
  aspiration
• Cultural change or a revolution in
  responsibility?
• We like to worry ourselves but we should
• Need to keep trying alternative points of view
• Technology may save us
• but not in the way we expect it to

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Thanksben.page_at_ipsos-mori.com