Future Tense Barometer 2024
Recognizing that futures thinking is still not sufficiently represented in public discussions in Croatia, we joined forces with the Valicon agency to explore the perspectives of Croatians on the future. The result of Future Tense platform and Valicon collaboration is the Future Tense Barometer – the first public opinion survey addressing the perceptions and expectations of citizens regarding the future.

Main Concerns and Hopes

According to the survey results, more than half of the citizens frequently think about how their lives will look in the next 10 to 20 years, and 49% of them have expressed concern about their future within that timeframe.

The most frequently mentioned concerns relate to geopolitical relations, climate change, the pension system, corruption, and the financial stability of future generations.

On the other hand, 33% of citizens express optimism, citing hopes for a better standard of living, the health of their loved ones, and family travel.

The survey also offers valuable insight into the key areas where citizens are seeking improvements. The largest number of respondents, 72%, want better functioning of the healthcare system, while 55% believe that there is need for more jobs. Improvement in the well-being of children and youth is also high on the priority list, emphasized by 53% of citizens.

Short-Term Thinking in Politics

The Future Tense Barometer highlights significant public concern regarding how politicians approach the future. A striking 81% of citizens feel that politicians make short-term decisions, while 76% are afraid that long-term problems will not be resolved.

Interestingly, 77% of citizens state that long-term visions lack sufficient space in Croatian politics, while 74% believe that their perception of political parties would improve if the parties presented clear long-term plans.

If you would like to explore the survey results in more detail, download the Future Tense Barometer here