Welcome to the future

The future is taking shape before our very eyes. It is shaped through an on-going process that involves us all in different ways. It is shaped by everyday people in their everyday lives, by non-profit organisations, by companies, and through political measures and decisions.

In Sweden, everyone has the right to make their own decisions as to the direction that their life shall take. We are a free and open nation, and we believe in democracy and gender equality. We place our trust in each other and in the authorities and our national welfare system provides us with security in everyday life, and support when things go wrong. For most people, Sweden is a great country to live in.

At the same time, we are facing a number of future challenges. Sweden is a great country for many, but not for all. How can we minimize social exclusion and how can we strengthen the collective spirit that defines Sweden? What must be done to increase participation in society and how can we better utilize the competences of those who live in our country? How can we ensure that the whole of Sweden has adequate living standards in 2050?

We start work later and live longer as pensioners. How can we uphold the national welfare system when so few have to support so many? And how can we continue to cope with the downside of globalization and ensure sustainable and green growth?

These issues highlight the fact that Sweden faces major challenges in the areas of, inter alia, demographic development, integration, gender equality and participation in society and the quest for sustainable growth and the issue of justice and social cohesion.

In order to meet future social challenges, it is essential that both the challenges themselves, and the factors that culminate in them are identified and analysed. It is also important to discuss social challenges through a wide-perspective dialogue, where many different voices can be heard.

In order for Sweden is to be able to meet future social challenges, the government has set up the ‘Commission on the Future´ (Framtidskommissionen).

The Commission on the Future is chaired by the Prime Minister and consists of party leaders in the government and nine individuals with different perspectives and from different parts of the Swedish society. Read more about the members of the Commission on the Future.

The Commission on the Future is supported by its Secretariat. We also welcome your ideas and proposals on the future of Sweden.