The Intergenerational Solidarity Index (ISI), created by Jamie McQuilkin, measures the extent to which a nation provides for the wellbeing of its future generations. The ISI covers 122 countries and over 91% of the world’s population. This index is measured by using ten distinct indicators from three dimensions of capital transfer: economic, social and environmental. The combination of these three indicators generates a graded score, representing how well countries are working towards the needs of future generations.
In order to better understand the relationship between intergenerational solidarity and democratization, Roman Krznaric and Jamie McQuilkin updated this index, which they then published in The Good Ancestor. Despite the growing concern of the ability of democracies to plan and deliver for future generations, the updated index indicates a correlation between democratization and a high level of intergenerational solidarity. All but four of the 25 top-scoring countries in the ISI are democracies, and all but four of the 25 lowest-scoring countries in the ISI are autocracies. This reflects that democracies outperform autocracies at delivering on long-term public policy goals.
The ISI is part of a growing body of evidence suggesting that short-termism is not an inherent property of democracy, but rather that democracies, as we know them today, are constrained by short-sighted forces. Taking account of intergenerational fairness requires that we expand our time horizon and reimagine our democratic systems.
The video below provides a short explanation about the Intergenerational Solidarity Index, by the author of the Good Ancestor, Roman Krznaric.
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For more information about the relationship between the ISI and democracy, visit Roman Krznaric’s website: https://www.romankrznaric.com/good-ancestor/intergenerational-solidarity-index.
