Results of the ECO2050 public campaign conducted by Luxembourg Stratégie on 'Future scenarios and the corresponding strategic vision for the Luxembourg economy up to 2050'

The public campaign conducted by Luxembourg Stratégie, the strategic foresight department of the Ministry of the Economy, as part of the development of possible future scenarios and the design of a strategic vision for the Luxembourg economy up to 2050, ended on Monday 16 January 2023 with a second citizen debate with Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy.

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    (fr. l. to r.) Pascale Junker, Director of Luxembourg Stratégie; Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy

    (fr. l. to r.) Pascale Junker, Director of Luxembourg Stratégie; Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy

  2. ©LuxembourgStratégie

    Citizens' debate

    Citizens' debate

  3. ©LuxembourgStratégie

    Citizens' debate

    Citizens' debate

  4. ©LuxembourgStratégie

    Citizens' debate

    Citizens' debate

  5. ©LuxembourgStratégie

    Group photo - Participants

    Group photo - Participants

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    citizens' debate

    citizens' debate

Officially launched on Friday 2 December 2022, on the occasion of Unesco's World Futures Day, the campaign offered all interested citizens the opportunity to give their opinion, through an online questionnaire, on the future scenarios and the corresponding strategic vision that aim to make the national economy more competitive, resilient and inclusive by 2050, regardless of the future that will be achieved. More than 600 responses to the questionnaire were collected and over 60 people were given the opportunity to discuss in person with Franz Fayot in two meetings.

The public survey showed that the Luxembourg economy would be just as capable of managing the "socio-economic sleepwalker" scenario (30% of survey responses) as the "techno-digital optimism" scenario (30%) - compared to 14% for the "bio-regional circularity" scenario. A quarter of respondents still believe that the national economy is not sufficiently equipped to deal with each of the 3 scenarios. Respondents also consider the "socio-economic sleepwalker" and "techno-digital optimism" scenarios to be the most realistic. While the 'bio-regional circularity' scenario appears to be the least realistic, it is favoured as the most desirable scenario for the Luxembourg economy, with 71% wishing it to happen by 2050 (19% for the 'techno-digital optimism' scenario), underlining, by contrast, a fairly broad rejection of the status quo represented by the 'socio-economic sleepwalker'. It is also the 'bio-regional circularity' scenario that is perceived as being the most respectful of biophysical limits (for 86% of respondents) and social needs (for 70%).

Among the main threats to the national economy cited were impoverishment and the effort to adapt to environmental upheaval (both in terms of changes in habits and investment). Interestingly, some of these threats are also listed as opportunities (education, lifestyle change or investment). More fundamental fears were also mentioned several times (that of a shortage of food or having to leave Luxembourg). All of them, however, see reasons for action and commitment, and when asked which occupations are the most promising for the future, technology-related activities (from IT to crafts) and health come out on top.

The detailed results can be found on the Luxembourg Stratégie website. The Luxembourg Stratégie team would like to thank all respondents for their participation in the campaign and the richness of their contributions.

To conclude the ECO2050 project, the three scenarios and the final economic vision will be publicly presented on Tuesday 28 March 2023 from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in the large auditorium of the Maison du savoir (2, avenue de l'Université, L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette). Details of the event will be updated regularly.

Press release by the Ministry of the Economy / Luxembourg Stratégie

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