Americans vision of the future bleak; science holds hope

A smattering of recent opinion polls and research papers looking to the future have revealed some grim perceptions about the economy and environment, but a more positive opinion of the role for science and technology (S&T) emerges.

A new Pew Research Center survey found that majorities of Americans foresee a country with a burgeoning national debt, a wider income gap and a workforce threatened by automation by 2050. However, Pew respondents look to science and technology as well ways to help solve the nation’s challenges: 87 percent say S&T will have a very or somewhat positive impact in solving the nation’s problems and another 74 percent feel the same about the role for colleges and universities.

While just over a third (34 percent) the Pew poll respondents rated increased spending on scientific research as a top policy priority, a different poll from Hart Research showed more support. The poll, conducted on behalf of a group of organizations committed to advancing U.S. science and technology including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Chemical Society among others, revealed that voters believe (87 percent) it is important for the federal government to fund S&T research, and 86 percent would support a proposal for the federal government to increase such funding each year for the next 10 years.

A separate collection of research papers made possible by the US 2050 project, supported by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and the Ford Foundation, gives a robust view of the changing demographics and forces affecting Americans’ lives, exploring topics like population, politics, and employment and adult workers. Authored by leading scholars in the areas of demographics, labor economics, political science, and more, the US 2050 project aims to create a more comprehensive view of the country’s economic and fiscal future and spur a sense of urgency to address pressing policy concerns.

For instance, Harry Holzer of Georgetown University in his paper, The U.S. Labor Market in 2050: Supply, Demand and Policies to Improve Outcomes, notes that slower population growth and lower labor force participation will constrain the supply of labor in the U.S., while automation and changing employment practices may displace workers. The author suggests policy makers provide incentives for firms to train current employees and encourage schools and colleges to teach flexible, transferable skills. Other recommendations from the author include creating lifelong learning accounts for workers and reforms in immigration and retirement policy.