The future is uncertain, but by strengthening connections between generations, building bridges between demographics, nurturing leaders who represent their communities effectively, and seeking intersectional solutions, we can position ourselves to confront challenges head-on and ensure we are ready to capitalize on the opportunities set to come our way. 

To manage global demographic transition (a key megatrend that does not receive as much attention as the technological revolution or climate change), we must start now to cultivate leaders and communities who are ready to respond.

For the first time in history, a growing number of countries worldwide are set to have more old people than young. Those young people will shoulder an ever-growing weight of responsibility for the generations that came before them. South Korea is perhaps the archetype: It has the lowest birth rate in the world, and if nothing changes, the population will halve by 2100. But South Korea is far from unique—even in places largely viewed as the planet’s future (many of them in Africa), when it comes to the birth of new humans, fertility rates are falling quickly.

The more we dig into the ramifications of this global megatrend, the clearer it becomes that work to prepare for this new world must begin today.

The burden of ensuring financial sustainability in our old age, paid out through state and private pensions, is escalating rapidly and pension reform is needed now—not decades down the line, even if that means shouldering short-term costs now to ensure long-term sustainability in the future. 

But this is not simply about what happens when a society gets old; the issue is far more significant than that alone. We must also ask what happens as a consequence of diverging values between older and younger generations. China is already beginning to grapple, unwillingly, with this question: the country’s youth are increasingly “lying flat,” mentally checking out of the workforce as a result of the expectations and burden of responsibility placed on a generation of single children by their aging parents. In India, novel ways of generating intergenerational empathy to address this divergence are being explored.

Connected to demographic change and diverging values is the constant state of near-unrest experienced in many countries because of a failure to reach a consensus on immigration. Not least in the European Union and its member states—despite the continent desperately needing more workers and benefitting from their arrival. This lack of consensus plays into the hands of populist politicians, most recently demonstrated in the Netherlands, who draw their influence from anti-immigrant sentiment. As the “old continent” ages further, continuing to welcome people from outside the EU is necessary to ensure the bloc’s financial sustainability—not to mention its social and cultural enrichment. Progressive policymakers and politicians alike need new positive counterarguments to those propagated by anti-immigrant populists.

Many of these challenges feel greater still in the face of poor intergenerational mobility, which has long been calculated based on economic measures such as increased earnings over generations. However, as wages stagnate and our concept of a good life and personal and communal well-being shift, this metric feels outdated and needs reimagining. If not, we risk younger generations despairing of the lack of “progress” they are achieving, further compounding intergenerational and intercommunal tensions.

Managing these demographic, economic, and political tensions as social values diverge is already proving a point of deep contention, but the good news is that they are not insurmountable. Current and future leaders are already working—independently and collectively—to overcome them, and in doing so, are laying the foundations of a just, equitable, and sustainable future for their communities.

For example, take Vera Fonseca, who is mainstreaming gender issues in her work at Portugal’s High Commission for Migration. Her intersectional approach—acknowledging that migrants are not one homogenous group but individuals with challenges in their own lives and unique contributions they can make in their new home countries—shows how government agencies can manage migration more humanely. Doing so is not just morally right, but it delivers the most material benefit to both the individual immigrant and the society they join.

Poet and activist Rosakebia Estela Mendoza has worked as a cultural mediator for over a decade, bridging differences between cultures and generations in his native Peru, current home Japan, and elsewhere. He has advocated for his community’s accessibility to clean drinking water in the European Parliament and worked alongside communities and organizations to find common ground to move forward together. This has meant aiding older generations to become more digitally savvy, for example, or helping younger generations to access and appreciate their elders’ knowledge.

And in the UK, Jenny Wood, who co-directs children’s organization A Place in Childhood, brings young people into the process of designing their own spaces. She empowers them to be actors in their own lives—an experience that will serve them well for years to come, in a world that too often fails to listen to the people set to inherit it.

Whether in a community-based organization or large public institution, empathetic leaders like Vera, Rosakebia, and Jenny will be key as we navigate the coming transition of demographics, values, and economies. They—and their fellow Salzburg Global Fellows in the KFAS-Salzburg Global Leadership Initiative—are just the tip of the iceberg of the work going on today to not just prepare for the uncertain future we face but to proactively build the sustainable future we want. 

They show that we are not simply the subjects of global megatrends but architects of our own future. They and many like them are already leading in rebuilding shared values. They are prioritizing human rights and the rights of minorities in their work. They are mainstreaming gender. Together, these leaders are ensuring that the challenges we face do not come between us—but rather draw us closer to each other.

Addressing the challenges and opportunities brought by aging populations, declining fertility rates and shifting population structures

The shift toward an aging global population is a phenomenon that transcends national boundaries. Presently, 70% of the world’s population resides in countries where fertility rates have plummeted below the replacement level, according to data from the World Bank. A landmark study published in The Lancet in 2020 forecasts a dramatic demographic shift, predicting that nearly all nations will see their populations halve by 2100. But as we navigate this global shift, it is crucial to recognize that aging is not merely a challenge to be managed but a significant opportunity to be seized.

There is no question that this unprecedented trend raises pressing questions about sustainability, not least: can nations continue to provide essential services such as pensions, healthcare, and long-term care in the face of aging-driven fiscal pressures? 

Economically, the aging population imposes strains on resources, sparking generational tensions in diverse regions from Latin America to Europe and Asia. These challenges vividly underscore the struggle to harmonize the needs of an aging adult population with the economic and social vitality of younger generations. However, the implications of this demographic evolution are not limited to economic considerations alone: They span a wide array of dimensions, including social, cultural, environmental, technological, infrastructural and political.

Societies worldwide are thus confronted with a multifaceted challenge that tests our collective ability to adapt and flourish amidst change. While some governments have endeavored to bolster fertility rates by implementing policies to safeguard well-being, dignity, and equity, human rights considerations often remain sidelined. Whether under egalitarian or authoritarian regimes, a sustainable formula for reversing the decline in fertility rates remains elusive.

Adopting a more positive, opportunity-seeing perspective necessitates a pivot toward more innovative, inclusive, human-rights-anchored and sustainable policy formulations that address the immediate economic impacts and consider the broader societal adjustments required for a world that respects and values its aging population.

Aging as an opportunity

The narrative surrounding aging is often framed in terms of its challenges. However, a growing body of research argues for a paradigm shift that recognizes aging as not just a societal challenge but a valuable opportunity. This perspective emphasizes the importance of active aging and participatory approaches, advocating for policies that engage older adults meaningfully. It suggests a move toward acknowledging the responsibility of individuals for their aging process while also highlighting the need for societal structures that support diverse forms of participation—both active and passive.

The emphasis on participatory methods is crucial. Policymakers should be encouraged to engage with older individuals through diverse and inclusive approaches to genuinely understand what meaningful participation entails for this demographic. Such engagement is not only about soliciting feedback but integrating older adults’ varied experiences and insights into the policymaking process. 

For instance, initiatives like the Aging and Policy Making in Korea project have shown the value of incorporating individual perspectives to create more effective and responsive policies. Innovation plays a key role in reimagining the future of aging. The People Power Foresight Game, for example, is an innovative tool that fosters intergenerational dialogue and collaboration. The game crafts plausible future scenarios by allowing participants to draw from decks of Policy, Culture, and Technology cards, encouraging strategic thinking and creative problem-solving. This game exemplifies how innovation can bridge generational divides, creating spaces for collective intelligence to flourish and envisage solutions to demographic challenges.

We need to fight ageism in the workforce by ensuring older adults remain engaged and valued in the labor market. This goal calls for strategic support for employers to eliminate age-related biases and integrate older workers as integral members of society, fostering an environment where they are treated equitably and recognized for their contributions. To complement this, adopting human-rights-proof  pro-natalist policies could enhance fertility rates, thereby strengthening the future labor force and achieving a demographic balance. These measures aim to nurture a family-friendly atmosphere, from financial incentives for new parents to providing childcare facilities. Moreover, the proposition to augment the local workforce’s quality through technology underscores the importance of policies that evolve with the labor market’s changing needs.

Aging populations can be seen as an opportunity to foster more prosperous and equitable societies. This would require a comprehensive re-evaluation of retirement concepts, pushing for policies that endorse a lengthy, healthy, and adaptable working life alongside safeguards for those who cannot continue working. This approach spans crucial policy areas such as health care for the elderly, inclusivity in the labor market, skill re-skilling and up-skilling, and pension reforms, emphasizing the necessity for a supportive infrastructure that accommodates the aging population’s diverse needs. 

The situation in the Republic of Korea, facing the challenges of a super-aged population, further illustrates the need for demographic policies that address the specificities of aging in different contexts. The traditional methods, like fertility enhancement, have fallen short, particularly in rural areas affected by urban migration and demographic decline. South Korea’s shift towards a predominantly older population highlights the demand for innovative and sustainable strategies to manage the implications of this demographic transition, including healthcare and financial support for the aging society. Crafting policies sensitive to the unique aging patterns and requirements of rural and urban areas is paramount for providing all-encompassing support for the nation’s elderly, showcasing the global imperative for adaptable and forward-thinking demographic policies.

A global platform

A global platform is needed for consolidating efforts, insights, and actions aimed at navigating demographic shifts and fostering dignified aging globally. This platform would serve as a nexus for policymakers, scholars, social innovators, and engaged citizens worldwide to form strategic alliances, share knowledge and resources, and bolster initiatives that champion the cause of dignified aging. Through such a collaborative environment, the platform would empower participants to shape influential policies and stimulate ground-breaking research that addresses the nuances of aging in various demographic settings. Its core mission would be to ensure that aging populations worldwide are met with policies and innovations that uphold their dignity, rights, and well-being, demonstrating a unified commitment to transforming the challenges of demographic transition into opportunities for societal advancement.

South Korea’s fertility rate should be a warning to the world

With a birth rate well below the replacement rate, the Republic of Korea’s population could halve in just 50 years. Other countries must take note.

BY CHRISTOPHER HAMILL-STEWART

Among the global megatrends at play today, from climate change to rapid urbanization, demographic transition does not often get the attention it deserves—but one of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the coming century is that we simply don’t have enough young people.

Despite the world population topping 8 billion in 2022, global fertility is projected to fall from 2.3 children per woman in 2021 to 2.1 (the replacement rate) in 2050. Across the OECD (a group of 38 mostly high-income countries), the population aged 65 and over is projected to spike from 17.4% in 2017 to 27.1% by 2050. One in 10 people will be over 80. Meanwhile, the expanding BRICS bloc of (mostly emerging economy) countries must navigate the challenge that their members “will be old before they are rich.” 

The burden of supporting this swelling aged population, as it stands, will fall on the ever-shrinking number of working-age people. 

South Korea, with the lowest fertility rate in the world and a rapidly aging population, is the canary in the coal mine of this global challenge. South Korea’s fertility rate hit its lowest-ever point of 0.72 births per person in 2023. That’s far below even Japan, which currently sits at around 1.2 births per person—and well below the fertility replacement rate of 2.1.

Fitch Ratings warned in 2022 that “demographic pressure presents headwinds to potential growth over the long run.” “Headwinds” is an understatement.

Manuel Garcia Huintrón, a demographics expert who sits on several pension advisory boards and co-founded pension start-up company Nuovalo, says: “With the 0.7 rate, it will take South Korea 50 years to halve its population—and then another 50 years to halve it again.”

The problem is exacerbated by an aging population, he explains, which raises health and social care burdens and stresses traditional mechanisms like pensions. It upends the intergenerational assumption that a larger working-age population will support a smaller retired populace—and receive, in turn, the same level of care when they retire. For the first time in history, that assumption no longer applies in many countries worldwide.

The extent of the societal consequences is unclear—but intergenerational pressures are emerging. For example, younger buyers are losing out in the competition for limited housing stock, a phenomenon that contributes to the fertility crisis due to the lack of housing fit to raise a family.

For South Korea and other countries like it, one option to slow demographic change is to bring in young workers from abroad.

“Immigration can be part of the solution,” says Garcia, caveating, however, that there are “societal changes that need to take place, so people really need to start to start welcoming immigration.”

Other countries are already leveraging immigration. The UK, for example, sits at a fertility rate of 1.6 but brings in hundreds of thousands of workers every year to maintain its taxpaying population. (Though this is not without significant political and social consternation.) Korea has already begun to loosen restrictions on foreign workers in the country, but immigration “cannot be the whole solution,” Garcia says. Fertility rates are set to decline worldwide. Even in Africa, where fertility rates are highest, fertility is beginning to fall just as demand for immigrants to plug economic holes is growing.

Gender dynamics play a critical role in the fertility decline, and so improving gender equality is another potential solution. Korean women have the highest educational attainment level among OECD countries, but they are underrepresented in management and leadership across nearly all sectors. 

According to Korean Labor Minister Lee Jung-Sik, “a key solution to the fertility, aging and productive problem is helping women raise children happily without having to worry about giving up jobs.”

Minji Hong, a producer at one of the country’s most popular YouTube channels, MMTG, is one of those high-achieving Korean women faced with a difficult decision.

“I want to have a family and baby, but must think about my career,” she says, explaining that having a child can often sound the death knell on a woman’s career. This takes a toll on her: “I have to deny myself a child if I want to continue to be successful.”

One problem, she says, is attitudes toward women in the workplace. “Feminism is used as an insult in Korea,” she says, and “in Korean society, company or government decision-makers: they’re male.”

For example, Korean women are technically entitled to days off work when they get their periods, but if they choose to take this time, Hong says, “male workers say: ‘you’re just on vacation.’”

These attitudes filter through to the fertility rate. When women are forced to choose between their careers and having children, they have fewer children—and they have them later in life, which carries potential additional health challenges for both mother and child. 

There is no easy solution to the fertility crisis, but countries facing their own demographic-economic time bombs are trialling various solutions. Hungary offers major tax breaks to working women, particularly young ones, who have children. Singapore is poised, in 2024, to increase the amount of money it pays new mothers to around $2,250. Sweden has seen success in increasing fertility rates by removing rules that financially penalized parents for having children too close together, ensuring mother-friendly policies that help them remain in the workforce, and encouraging fathers to take extended parental leave.

For Garcia, as well as smart policies that encourage parenthood, technology will inevitably play a role, alleviating the pressure on young workers by bolstering their productivity.

“If the number of workers we have halves, but the productivity of those workers doubles, then your productive capacities are kind of the same,” says Garcia. 

Could Artificial Intelligence be part of a solution? “Absolutely,” he says.

AI could help us achieve productivity gains, but “we must have the right policies and regulations in place” to leverage those economic advantages against the disadvantages of demographic changes.

“It is exciting, and it’s scary,” says Garcia. “What happens in the coming decades depends on the policies we are setting up now.”

Ensuring economic stability, resilience, and equitable distribution of resources across generations

Amidst demographic transitions and changing intergenerational mobility around the world, pension systems are vital to financial sustainability. Yet, public debates on pension reform remain underappreciated or overlooked—often perceived as too technical or complicated. 

In an interview with fellow Salzburg Global-KFAS Fellows, Taeil Kim, professor of public administration at Korea University, outlines why pension systems matter—and why we should be concerned in a time of demographic shifts. A leading expert in national pension reform, his latest book (Uncomfortable Pension Policies: Reforming our shockingly fragile pension system) introduces readers to the growing challenges faced by all pension holders today.

How is pension reform tied to financial sustainability?

TK: There are two significant challenges to financial sustainability: aging and the climate crisis.The primary driver of concerns about financial sustainability in many countries is the aging population. This demographic shift leads to increased government expenditures in areas such as pensions, medical care, and elderly services. Of these, pension spending is the largest component. For instance, pension expenditures in Greece, Italy, and France exceed 15% of GDP. While the current burden is substantial, it is poised to escalate further as the population continues to age.

Why should the general public care about pension reform?

TK: In most countries, the present working generation shoulders the responsibility of funding pension expenses for the elderly generation. When present workers retire, it will be their turn to benefit from pensions and the future working generation to invest. When the number of younger workers is larger than the number of older retirees, then this system is relatively sustainable. But what happens when the number of younger workers is much lower than the number of older retirees?

This is the problem faced by aging societies, where pension systems may distribute more funds than they receive. Pension reforms are thus vital to rebalancing the burdens foreseeable across present and future generations. This may entail short-term costs for long-term sustainability. 

Pension reform can thus be an unpopular choice for today’s voters, presenting a dilemma for politicians sensitive to public opinion. This is also why it is imperative that the general public is aware of pension systems and the challenges faced in the immediate future.

Could you share some key takeaways from your new book?

TK: My book addresses pension reform in South Korea, where the structure of the public pension system currently results in recipients receiving significantly more than they contribute. Here, the unprecedented rate of aging in South Korea poses a looming challenge for future generations. 

If the current demographic trajectory persists, then our pension system will run out of money. Although the current pension premium stands at 9%, maintaining this rate would require an increase to over 30% after 30 years to sustain benefits for the elderly, which is deemed unfeasible. The anticipated old-age rate at that time is expected to surpass 40%, and the surge in medical and care expenses further compounds the strain on government finances.

My solution is to establish a balance where each generation receives benefits commensurate with their contributions. This will ensure fairness in the distribution of the burden across generations. Achieving this equilibrium solely through pension premiums is challenging, given that benefits often exceed the premiums paid.

To address this, it is imperative to augment insurance premiums and establish a fund financed by current taxpayers. This fund would be earmarked for future pension expenditures, providing a more sustainable solution. Additionally, it is crucial to enhance the role of private pensions [paid by an employer or returns from an individual’s private investment scheme] in guaranteeing retirement income alongside public pensions [paid by the state]. This multifaceted approach aims to create a more equitable and viable pension system for South Korea’s evolving demographic landscape.

Is this approach to pension reform and financial sustainability applicable only in South Korea?

TK: The escalating financial burden on future generations from an aging society is a challenge faced by most countries—albeit with variations in intensity. Consequently, pension reform aimed at enhancing financial sustainability is a universal concern. At the heart of this reform is the imperative to establish parity between what each generation pays and receives, thereby promoting fairness in intergenerational burden-sharing.

I have proposed the establishment of a fund funded by the present generation, mirroring practices already adopted by certain countries. Notably, Australia has instituted a “future fund”, and New Zealand has followed suit. These funds are strategically designed to accumulate resources for future financial expenditures, ensuring long-term financial resilience.

What is a key message that you would like to share with policymakers on pension reform?

TK: The objective is to ensure equitable distribution of the burden across generations. Presently, Korea’s old-age rate is below 20%, resulting in relatively modest financial outlays for the elderly, encompassing pensions, medical care, and care services. However, projections indicate that the old-age rate is poised to surpass 40% within the next 30 years. Anticipated financial obligations for the elderly during that period will significantly exceed current levels, presenting a formidable challenge for the working generation at that time to shoulder the entire burden.

To address this, the proposed strategy involves proactively establishing a fund, primarily allocated at the expense of the current generation, with the intention of utilizing it in the future. This proactive approach, especially in funding pensions, aims to alleviate the impending strain on the working generation by securing financial resources in advance.

What are some further areas of research needed to improve pension reforms?

TK: The primary purpose of a pension is to secure income during retirement, which requires sustainable pension finances. Korea’s current focus on pension reform centers on enhancing the sustainability of pension finances, aligning with the overarching goal of ensuring adequate income in old age.

In essence, the objectives of pension reforms are two-fold: to optimize financial sustainability and to fortify pensions’ ability to effectively provide retirement income. 

To achieve the second objective in the Korean context, two key initiatives are imperative. First, there is a need to decrease the number of non-beneficiaries and [second], extend the subscription period. Presently, a considerable portion of the elderly lacks eligibility for the national pension, and those who are eligible often receive meager pension amounts due to short subscription periods. Although future prospects may improve, the anticipated outcomes are still deemed insufficient. Therefore, a strategic policy approach is essential to broaden the pool of pension beneficiaries and extend the subscription period.

Relying solely on a public pension proves challenging to furnish adequate retirement income. Private pensions should contribute significantly to securing retirement income. While Korea has a private pension designated as a mandatory retirement pension, its current efficacy in guaranteeing retirement income is minimal. There is a critical need to optimize the functionality of [private] retirement pensions to ensure robust support for individuals during their retirement years.

INTERVIEWEE PROFILE

Professor Taeil Kim is an expert in national pension systems and serves as a professor of Public Administration and chairman of the Institute of Aging at Korea University in South Korea. Professor Kim has published numerous books and research papers on government budgeting, welfare policy, the Korean economy, and more. 

His book “Uncomfortable Pension Policies: Reforming our shockingly fragile pension system” is available in Korean.

Fostering dialogue and understanding between generations, seeking common ground while respecting diversity and evolving societal values, beliefs, and cultural norms

When done right, gaming—whether behind a computer or in the physical world with cards or other props—can actually help leaders be more empathetic. It can help them better navigate their own futures and those of their organizations or communities.

Parag Mankeekar, director and co-founder of the RealLives Foundation, says games can be instrumental in one fundamental way: fostering empathy.

“Empathy turning into action is what leadership is all about,” he says. “Empathetic leaders can give you solutions—they identify with a problem or challenge. They actively engage with it. This is enabled by empathy.”

Cultivating empathetic leaders is not easy, but Mankeekar says games like his digital, text-based game RealLives can help.

RealLives is a simulator that drops players into the life of a random human on Earth. The player could be assigned the life of an upper-middle-class family in Kazakhstan, a Syrian refugee, or a Chilean web developer; RealLives then asks them to make a series of decisions that those people would face as they navigate life.

RealLives challenges players to insert themselves into the lives of their characters in a way that few games can, drawing on United Nations’ sustainable development data to present players with an accurate look into the lives of their characters. It is this that builds empathy, Mankeekar explains: “It’s difficult to empathize with someone unless you’re faced with the choices they face, the events big and small that happen to them.”

The idea that video games build empathy is not just an idea. A growing body of evidence suggests that games, including video games, can encourage empathy in scenarios ranging from conflict resolution in the Middle East to prejudice reduction or catalyzing empathy aimed at social impact. Inserted into the wider educational system—which Mankeekar argues currently struggles to teach empathy—they can be an important tool for educators seeking to encourage or nurture empathy.

This capacity to build empathy extends beyond traditional leadership roles. Regarding intergenerational dialogue, empathy is crucial in navigating rapidly changing values; Mankeekar adds: “Dialogue of any kind, intergenerational, inter-communal or otherwise, fails when people are unempathetic.”

Beyond building empathy, when it comes to navigating global changes, games can also help us by broadening our perspectives and helping us to imagine routes forward.

Anyone who has ever sat down to make their personal or business five-year plan knows how hard it is to predict the future. It often feels like there are simply too many variables, too many unknowns, to make a reasonable prediction. 

For leaders responsible for an entity greater than themselves—whether they are CEOs, community leaders, or elected officials—the challenge of foresight is also greater. In an era defined by the unpredictable interplay of megatrends like climate change and demographic shifts, leadership that can manage this complex, multifaceted change is critically important.

Futurist Adam Sharpe, founder and CEO of Futurely and a youth participation consultant for UNICEF, says: “Gaming is something that we’re actually quite good at, but we don’t do enough. Games create rules around which complex subjects can suddenly be more accessible.” 

And games shine when imagining or re-imagining the future, he added.

Sharpe is developing the People Power Foresight Game, in which groups of participants are convened and tasked with imagining a future that may not have occurred to them, responding to scenarios ranging from the creation of a fully functioning artificial womb to a collapse in global fertility rates or the dawn and expansion of viable nuclear fusion. 

Participants are asked in a playful and disarming way to expand their thinking beyond traditional boundaries.

For leaders, embracing futures thinking—the academic field and theories of why and how we consider the future—games like this are particularly valuable: “Leaders are responsible for vision in an organization—and playing games like this gives you that way of looking at the future and developing some kind of vision, even through periods of disruption.”

Futures thinking—be it via a game like Sharpe’s or another means—can help us deliver results, Shape explains, particularly when addressing large-scale challenges like climate change, intergenerational justice, healthcare, changing technology, and more.

“Often, we end up stuck in present challenges—we need to extend our view in order to come together and make progress. But when we, as an intergenerational group across hierarchies, across classes, establish common vision for the future together, the road is open to us to have a more productive, collaborative, open discussion.”

PROJECT PROPOSAL

For the project proposal from the Diverging Values working group, see “OF COURSE! Library”

Examining the impact of migration on societies, economies, and intergenerational relationships and exploring strategies to facilitate integration, foster social cohesion, and harness the benefits of cultural diversity

Migration has always been a part of human history. Yet the recent surge in cross-border mobility resulting from globalization, climate change, and conflict has elevated its status to one of the key global issues confronting humanity today. According to a report released by the United Nation’s International Organization for Migration in 2022, an estimated 281 million people (or 3.6% of the world’s population) resided in countries other than their country of birth, a 27% increase compared to figures from a decade ago. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees puts the number of forcibly displaced individuals at 108.4 million, slightly more than one-third of whom are cross-border refugees seeking safety outside of their conflict- or disaster-stricken countries.

As the number of migrants arriving at their borders in search of safety, security, and better economic opportunity continue to rise, governments in migrant-receiving countries have been tasked with the responsibility of devising policies to promote the inclusion and integration of migrant communities into host society. 

By all accounts, however, this is a tall order; policymakers are forced to formulate these integration policies against the backdrop of legal and institutional frameworks that are often outdated and ill-equipped to accommodate non-citizens. At the same time, they also face the herculean task of managing a native population and political establishment increasingly suspicious of migrants and apprehensive about the potential negative consequences of immigration. 

Furthermore, political leaders at the helm of government often either lack the political will or are fundamentally hostile to investing in bettering the lives of migrant communities. What frequently transpires as a result is a mixture of policy actions that only provide minor improvements to an already hostile status-quo or policies that in reality are assimilationist or downright coercive.

The perils of the prevailing models of integration policymaking

Given these obvious shortcomings, how can we, as a society, strive to improve the design and implementation of integration policy? A key problem in integration policymaking is the conspicuous absence of migrant voices in the policymaking process. 

In an era where collaborative governance between public and private stakeholders has become the norm rather than the exception, it is striking to see how infrequently migrant communities themselves are meaningfully involved or consulted in the very process of designing policies intended to address their concerns and needs as they adjust to life in a new society. 

A top-down model of policymaking led primarily by non-immigrant policymakers runs the risk of mistaking what members of the native majority “assume” or “believe” migrants would need for what migrant actually need. 

Even worse, it can lead to the adoption of policies that coercively impose norms and values that the native majority would prefer that migrant communities espouse. What results are policies that are misaligned—and thus have very little to do—with the demands and preferences of migrant communities.

Bringing migrant voices into the fold: The power of information

So, what to do? A framework that formalizes migrant community participation in integration policymaking would be ideal, though such formalization may require significant time and political commitment, neither of which are in abundant supply. As a complement and temporary substitute for more institutionalized participation, it is vital to leverage the power of information; specifically, information provided by migrant communities themselves. 

This information can be collected via surveys completed by migrants on their experiences adapting to life in the host country, the challenges they face during that process (the “migrant journey”), and the specific demands for intervention on an array of related migrant integration issues including access to the labor market, education, citizenship, family, health, political participation, and anti-discrimination. 

Where would policymakers collect or gain access to such information? We—Salzburg Global-KFAS Fellows and members of the KFAS-Salzburg Global Leadership Initiative’s working group on Immigration—propose the creation of an integrated data platform that will act as a one-stop shop that assists government and policymakers in both collecting, analyzing, and accessing such data.

Migrant Voices Platform

DATA COLLECTION 

At the core of the idea for the one-stop integrated data platform is the process of collecting data from migrant communities. Capitalizing on the expertise of multiple academic researchers in the subtheme group with expertise in survey design and other qualitative research methods, the data platform will provide advising and consulting to governments and other societal organizations interested in conducting surveys among members of the migrant community. 

The data platform will also be able to provide expertise on issues regarding the sampling of migrants drawing on the expertise of the working group members. Government actors are in a unique position since many countries mandate regularized interactions between either national or local government agencies and migrants. These regularized interactions will provide ample opportunity to interact with and collect data on migrant perspectives.

ANALYSIS 

One of the other important functions of the data platform would be to provide expert analysis, as well as interactive analysis capabilities, of the data collected among migrant communities. Drawing on expertise of researchers, the data platform will process the data and assist in intuitively analyzing, visualizing, and presenting the data in digestible formats. 

The platform will allow for the possibility of over-time analysis for data from within a single country, as well as cross-sectional analyses that allows comparison across data from multiple countries.

ACCESS

The data made available on the platform would be open-access; that is, available to government policymakers, public and private sector stakeholders, as well as the general public to use.

We are not the first to propose an evidence-based approach to policymaking. The Migration Policy Institute Europe has long advocated strongly for the need for evidence-driven integration policy. MIPEX (Migration Integration Policy Index)’s initiative to create a cross-national index of integration policies currently in implementation most closely resembles our approach. However, our proposed data platform is distinctive in that it will provide a platform on policy inputs (migrant perspectives and preferences) that shape policymaking rather than the status of policies themselves.

Challenges and solutions

Implementing an integrated data platform for immigration policymaking comes with its set of challenges. Feasibility, funding, and scalability are key concerns that must be addressed to make this approach viable.

FEASIBILITY

The complexity of migration issues demands a robust and adaptable data platform. Ensuring the feasibility of such a platform involves careful planning, technological infrastructure, and collaboration with experts in the field. Piloting the platform in specific regions can help identify challenges and refine the system before broader implementation.

FUNDING FOR SURVEY DEVELOPMENT AND SCALABILITY

Developing surveys, collecting data, and maintaining a scalable platform require financial resources. Securing funding from governments, private sector entities, and international organizations is crucial. Highlighting the long-term benefits and the positive impact on societies can attract financial support from stakeholders committed to addressing the challenges of migration.

Political implications and stakeholder engagement

Immigration policies are inherently political, shaped by the ideologies and priorities of governments. Stakeholder engagement plays a pivotal role in influencing political decisions and garnering support for migrant-friendly policies. The Migrant Voices Platform should actively involve three key stakeholders—government agencies, civil society, and international organizations—and work with a common language.

Government agencies must be encouraged to buy into the initiative, recognizing the value of data-driven policymaking in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of immigration policies. The platform can serve as a valuable tool for survey development and sample acquisition, enabling policymakers to gather insights directly from the migrant community. 

Civil society, with its advocacy role, can utilize the platform to encourage data use for policy development. By engaging with the data, civil society organizations can contribute to shaping policies that align with human rights principles and social justice. 

International organizations can provide financial support and buy-in, leveraging their global influence to encourage other countries to participate in the data-sharing initiative. A collaborative international effort is essential to comprehensively address the challenges faced by migrants, considering the transnational nature of migration.

Ultimately, the formulation of immigration policies that effectively address the challenges faced by migrants requires a holistic and data-driven approach. Stakeholder engagement, involving government agencies, civil society, and international organizations, is paramount. By actively involving these stakeholders, the Migrant Voices Platform can attract buy-in, encourage data use for policy development and advocacy, and foster collaboration on an international scale. 

While countless challenges exist, with concerted efforts and a commitment to addressing the complexities of migration, the integrated data platform can pave the way for more informed, equitable, and humane immigration policies globally.

Analyzing the opportunities and barriers for social and economic mobility between generations and reconsidering our concepts of human progress

Facilitating thought-provoking and inclusive discussion to encourage learning and transfer knowledge and experiences, and generating action-oriented recommendations that drive innovations and inspire global action to forge a better world