Research project A future to believe in? Social optimism in times of structural change

The reasons for variations in social optimism can be several and linked to individuals or contextual factors. Previous research suggests that economic growth is generally positive for social optimism, but there is a lack of more detailed and systematic knowledge about the importance of socioeconomic position and structural transformation. For instance, is it the case that people in professions replaced by robots are more likely to feel a lack of social optimism?

Another important factor to examine is an individual’s community. A lack of integration through social relationships can conceivably contribute to individuals looking more negatively at the future. Finally, the project aims to examine whether a lacking social optimism have consequences for factors such as fertility, political mobilization and voting.