This document summarizes the findings of a survey on generational perceptions in Britain. It finds that Generation Y (ages 18-35) are the least positive that their lives will be better than their parents' generation. Over half of all respondents now believe today's youth will have a worse quality of life. While Generation Y are more negative about the prospects for their generation, they are more positive about their own personal prospects. Generation Y are also more concerned about employment challenges than housing challenges when considering hardships facing young people today compared to previous generations.

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Fragmented Times – Generational Strains
Bobby Duffy
Managing Director, Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, King’s College London

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53
33
41
67
81
13
18
15
8
6
32
47
43
21
9
Total
Generation Y (18-35)
Generation X (36-49)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Pre-war generation (70+)
% Better % Worse
To what extent, if at all, do you feel that your generation will have had a better or worse
life than your parents’ generation, or will it have been the same?
Generation Y are the least positive about the prospect of a
better life than their parents
Base: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI

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43
23
22
45
42
22
12
35
54
April 2003
November 2011
February 2016
% Higher/better % Lower/worse
When they reach your age, do you think today’s youth will have a higher/better or lower/worse
quality of life than you / their parents’ generation, or about the same?
Over half now believe that today’s youth will have a worse
quality of life then their parents
Base: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI

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35
20
17
23
22
15
17
25
28
22
46
63
56
47
54
Pre-war generation (70+)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Generation X (36-49)
Generation Y (18-35)
Total
% Better % Worse
To what extent, if at all, do you feel that today’s youth will have had a better or worse life than
their parents’ generation, or will it have been about the same?
Total population more likely to be negative than Generation Y
Base: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI

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91
69
44
37
56
8
15
32
38
25
2
15
23
22
17
Pre-war generation (70+)
Baby Boomers (50-69)
Generation X (36-49)
Generation Y (18-35)
Total
% Better % Worse
And to what extent, if at all, do you personally feel you will have had a better or worse
life than your parents, or will it have been about the same?
Members of generation Y are more positive about their own
prospects than the prospects of their generation overall
Base: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI

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48%
39%
52%
57%
44%
45%
...Work-related issues
...Housing-related issues
Aged 18-34 Aged 35-54 Aged 55+
Thinking about adults aged 35 or under living in Britain today, in which ways, if any, do you feel
their lives are or will be harder than the lives of people from their parents’ generation?
Generation Y are more concerned about employment-
based challenges than housing-based ones
% mentioning…
Overall score 48%
Overall score 47%
Base: 1,001 British adults 18+, 13th – 16th February 2016 Source: Ipsos MORI

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Bobby Duffy
Managing Director, Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, King’s College London