Ipsos – Global Trends 2023: Polarisation, Pessimism and Positivity, Nov 2023

In the report by Ipsos Global Trends, November 2023, Ipsos highlights the persistent polarization and pessimism of the ongoing polycrisis. The three main components of the polycrisis – political uncertainty, climate change, and war – have worsened, as indicated by updated data and a growing sense of pessimism. The introduction also acknowledges the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI), which is expected to bring significant disruption to various aspects of life, including work, business, and society. Ipsos previously released an ambitious update on global trends earlier in the year, and now they provide further analysis using 10 key data points. The findings reveal troubling negative shifts, with less than half of the respondents believing that their quality of life will improve in the next five years. Additionally, there is a yearning in several countries to return to "how things used to be." The introduction also discusses how these ongoing crises can feel overwhelming and cause people to retreat and focus more inwardly on themselves and their immediate environments. The data highlights several trends, such as a decreased intensity in concern over climate change, a shift towards focusing on price rather than aligning with values when choosing brands amidst cooling economies, and a decline in belief that all medical conditions and diseases will eventually be curable, possibly due to a decline in trust in science observed in the previous year. Overall, the introduction outlines the continued challenges of the polycrisis and its impact on people's attitudes and behaviors, urging readers to pay attention to the signs of increasing inward focus rather than tackling broader problems.