Foreword

In the context of global challenges and the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on today’s young and future generations, this report provides the first comparative assessment of the policies, laws, institutional capacities and governance tools put in place by 34 OECD countries, the European Union and eight non-member countries to promote youth empowerment and intergenerational justice. It draws on the responses collected from the OECD Youth Governance Surveys by government entities in charge of youth affairs, ministries of education and selected line ministries as well as 81 OECD-based youth organisations between May 2019 and February 2020. Where relevant, it integrates insights from the OECD Policy Response (2020) Youth and COVID-19: Response, Recovery and Resilience“.

This report helps policy makers deliver policies and services that leave no generation behind. It does so by providing comparative evidence, benchmarks, good practices and lessons learned in three core areas:

  • Supporting youth’s transition to an autonomous life

  • Enhancing youth participation and representation in public life as well as trust in government, and

  • Delivering fair policy outcomes for all generations

    This report is part of the work of the OECD Public Governance Committee (PGC) to promote citizen-centred policy design to ensure inclusive growth. This work is directed by the PGC and benefits from the discussions by the Friends of Youth PLUS group, which brings together PGC delegates, youth policy makers and representatives from youth and elderly organisations.

The report draws on the evidence gathered by the Public Governance Committee, the Regulatory Policy Committee, and PGC sub-bodies. It complements work across the OECD on young people’s social and economic inclusion (Directorate for Employment Labour and Social Affairs Directorate), skills development (Directorate for Education and Skills), financial inclusion and literacy (Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs), and well-being and inclusion (Centre for Well-Being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunities). It also contributes to OECD-wide initiatives such as the OECD Action Plan for Youth and the OECD Initiative on Inclusive Growth.

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