Future proof: Britain in the 2020s

Brexit is the firing gun on a decade of disruption. As the UK negotiates its new place in the world, an accelerating wave of economic, social and technological change will reshape the country, in often quite radical ways. In this report, we set out five powerful trends that will drive change in the 2020s.

So, what will the 2020s look like? The UK’s population will grow significantly, age dramatically, and become increasingly diverse. Brexit will profoundly reshape the UK, serving as a fundamental break in the existing political-economic order. And advancements in technology will make the dreams of science fiction increasingly the reality of ordinary life by 2030.

“Humankind’s Promethean capacity to dominate and reshape the natural environment for its own benefit will hit a limit in the coming decades.”

Future proof: Britain in the 2020s, IPPR publication

In addition, the 2020s is likely to be a lowgrowth decade. Our lives and jobs will change rapidly, and Britain’s politics will be deeply affected by a changing economic world order, as well as an unprecedented focus on decarbonisation. Without reform, our political and fiscal system will struggle to build a more democratic, healthy society in the decades ahead.

“We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.”

R Buckminster Fuller