Do People Favour Policies that Protect Future Generations? Evidence from a British Survey of Adults

Dados Bibliográficos

ID2115872
AutoresHilary Graham (0000-0001-7949-6819, University of York), J Martin Bland, Martin Bland (0000-0002-9525-5334, University of York), Richard Cookson (0000-0003-0052-996X, University of York), Mona Kanaan (0000-0001-7956-7576, University of York), Piran C L White (0000-0002-7496-5775, University of York)
Ano2017
Volume46
Fascículo3
Páginas423-445
Data de publicação2017-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Social Policy (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0047-2794 • E-ISSN: 1469-7823
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0047279416000945
OpenAlexW2575897976
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas19
Referências citadas29

Long-range temporal choices are built into contemporary policy-making, with policy decisions having consequences that play out across generations. Decisions are made on behalf of the public who are assumed to give much greater weight to their welfare than to the welfare of future generations. The paper investigates this assumption. It briefly discusses evidence from sociological and economic studies before reporting the findings of a British survey of people's intergenerational time preferences based on a representative sample of nearly 10,000 respondents. Questions focused on two sets of policies: (i) health policies to save lives and (ii) environmental policies to protect against floods that would severely damage homes, businesses and other infrastructure. For both sets of policies, participants were offered a choice of three policy options, each bringing greater or lesser benefits to their, their children's and their grandchildren's generations. For both saving lives and protecting against floods, only a minority selected the policy that most benefited their generation; the majority selected policies bringing equal or greater benefits to future generations. Our study raises questions about a core assumption of standard economic evaluation, pointing instead to concern for future generations as a value that many people hold in common

Economic growth · Economics · Public economics · Public policy · Sample (material) · Value (mathematics) · Welfare · Global Health Care Issues · Health disparities and outcomes · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction