What enduring changes do young people between the ages of 20 and 30 foresee after the COVID-19 pandemic, and what would Millennials and Generation Z do differently if they were in charge? This question was posed at the launch of the Davos Lab initiative in January 2021 during the World Economic Forum Davos Agenda Week. To answer this question, the Davos Lab conducted surveys and dialogues on 10 key issues, referred to as the 10 pillars in this report, that are most likely to shape the life and outcomes of a child born during the pandemic.

One result of the pandemic is a far more organised generation of young voters, consumers and investors who are rallying behind urgent climate, fiscal and social justice. Without a doubt, this generation poses an existential risk to institutions that seek to simply revert to business as usual. However, it also represents a massive opportunity for governments and businesses in search of a progressive mandate.

In just three months, the Global Shapers Community organised virtual dialogues and surveys around the world. These local dialogues spanned the gamut from exclusive dialogues with undocumented migrants to public forums involving heads of states and public figures. This report is based on 344 dialogues held in 146 cities and on approximately 19,000 responses to the Davos Lab Survey conducted in 187 countries. The total reach of this work amounts to over 2.3 million people. Through these dialogues and the survey, young people shared their views, ideas and fears, which are summarised in this report as a set of actionable insights and recommendations for key decision-makers.