About 90 Percent of “Future Shapers” Across
the World Say Collaboration Leads to a Better Global Future
New research commissioned by Western Union shows that
millennials across 15 countries are united by a belief in
globalization, want the freedom to experience the opportunities it
brings, and have a desire to play a role in shaping the future
using technology. The survey of more than 10,000 millennials
reveals that this group is confident that globalization will make
the world a better place for themselves and others and are
committed to leading the change.
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Global Citizens (Graphic: Business
Wire)
The world—politically, economically, socially, and
technologically—is in flux. But what does this all mean for our
future? The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) has commissioned a
first-of-its-kind global study about millennials’ beliefs, hopes,
and aspirations for the future and the world that they wish to
shape for themselves and others.
The 2017 Western Union Global Study—“Globalization: A World View
of the Future”—surveyed native, first-generation, and foreign-born
people between the ages of 20-36 in Australia, Brazil, Canada,
China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South
Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and
Vietnam through online interviews. Most countries surveyed
represent significant millennial populations.
The survey shows that in sharp contrast to current geopolitics,
this diverse group of tomorrow’s future shapers is united by a
belief in a world of collaboration, unrestricted by geographical
borders.
Western Union President and Chief Executive Officer Hikmet Ersek
said, “The world is changing and there is a new economic power
shift driven by a new generation of global citizens. They are
shaping the future, and inspiring others to do the same. They are
redefining globalization to one of ‘personal globalization’ where
the pursuit of limitless cross-border movement, cross-border
digital communication, and creative lifestyle drives new economic
power.
“These inspiring future shapers are the leaders of tomorrow and
are looking at how they want the world to be, not only for
themselves, but for all. This generation is made up all kinds of
future leaders—entrepreneurial, corporate, political, and social
influencers. It is vitally important to understand what they think
and what they want the world to look like,” said Ersek.
Western Union operates in 200 countries and territories
worldwide, and commissioned the survey to gain additional insights
into the younger customers it serves through its digital
channels.
The following key findings are highlighted as important to
millennials (please access supporting data in the Key Findings
section below):
Global Citizenship: The Way of the Future
Global citizenship is pivotal for creating the world millennials
want for the future, as they believe the concept of belonging to
one individual country is outdated. Millennials view connection and
collaboration as the most critical steps forward to achieving
global citizenship.
Freedom to Be Global Safeguards the Future
The idea of limitless movement empowers millennials, as they
believe it will allow them to control their destiny. The majority
of millennials believe that creating a more open world will unlock
opportunities for better job prospects and result in economic
freedom, including the ease of money movement.
Governing the Future
Today, borders going up across the world—and politicians and
governments reasserting the concept of the nation state—are leading
many millennials to believe that these institutions are not
representing their respective views. However, a significant number
of millennials are adamant that collaboration is essential and
believe that shaping the future is up to them, rather than
institutions.
Unity and Inclusiveness
There are mixed sentiments regarding whether the world is at
peace, given concerns that increased racism and nativism may pose a
threat to global citizenship and an open world. Millennials believe
the most important trait to eradicate social discrimination is
ensuring that there is respect for diversity.
In tribute to the future shapers of the world, please view
Western Union’s #LiveMore #ShareMore. manifesto.
WU-G
About Western Union
The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global
payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago
Facil, and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment
services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with
fast, reliable, and convenient ways to send and receive money
around the world, to send payments, and to purchase money orders.
As of September 30, 2017, the Western Union, Vigo, and Orlandi
Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of
over 550,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and
over 150,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the capability to send
money to billions of accounts. In 2016, The Western Union Company
completed 268 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide,
moving $80 billion of principal between consumers, and 523 million
business payments. For more information, visit
www.westernunion.com.
The 2017 Western Union Global Study“Globalization: A
World View of the Future” Key Findings:
Global Citizenship: The Way of the Future
Global citizenship is pivotal for creating the world millennials
want for the future, as they believe the concept of belonging to
one individual country is outdated. Millennials view connection and
collaboration as the most critical steps forward to achieving
global citizenship.
- The majority see themselves as global
citizens rather than a citizen of any one country. This view is
shared regardless of if they are native, first generation, or
foreign born (57%).
- Approximately 90 percent agree that a
better global future can be achieved through collaboration. They
believe countries need to collaborate, rather than compete with one
another, leading to a better global future (88%).
- More than 8 in 10 state that the rise
of social media has played a significant role in uniting the world,
promoting transparency, encouraging debate on global issues, and
contributing to greater community unity (84%).
- Nearly two thirds believe that the free
flow of technology (60%) and information (57%) across borders will
become easier, but anticipate the flow of political ideas (61%) and
people (60%) to become more difficult or remain stagnant.
- The majority view connection as a
critical step forward to achieve global citizenship. Staying
connected to global news via social media (49%), connecting with
people from different cultures (47%), travelling to new places
(43%), and interacting with people that are different from
themselves (42%) is their way of creating a world they want for the
future.
Freedom to Be Global Safeguards the Future
The idea of limitless movement empowers millennials, as they
believe it will allow them to control their destiny. The majority
of millennials believe that creating a more open world will unlock
opportunities for better job prospects and result in economic
freedom, including the ease of money movement.
- The desire for global citizenship is
also about young people safeguarding their future. Almost eight in
ten agree the thought of a future with limitless movement around
the world empowers them (79%).
- More than two thirds agree they are
better off financially due to their ability to live and work in
other countries (71%).
- More than eight in ten agree that their
ability to live and work in other countries will unlock
opportunities for a better job and education (86%), and is a key
component to their economic and personal freedom (82%).
- There is also the hope that people and
business will work together, and that the exchange of commerce and
money will become easier by 2030. More than half believe that
sending money to a person in another country is set to get easier
by 2030 (56%), with one-third arguing that a single global currency
would foster great global unity (29%).
- Eventually, they believe that the world
will take on a more globalized outlook, with 79 percent believing
that the future will fit with the aspirations of global
citizens.
Governing the Future
Today, borders going up across the world—and politicians and
governments reasserting the concept of the nation state—are leading
many millennials to believe that these institutions are not
representing their respective views. However, a significant number
of millennials are adamant that collaboration is essential and
believe that shaping the future is up to them, rather than
institutions.
- More than eight in ten (88%) want to
participate or have their say on future matters of global and
national significance. They believe technology can enable
individuals to make their voices heard more easily.
- Seven out of ten believe future
governments will be hybrids of democratic institutions and
individuals—representing the power of people (70%).
- More than two thirds believe that
shaping the future is up to them as individuals, rather than
governments (71%).
- Forty percent believe the creation of a
globalized world requires shared responsibility of all. This
includes global and national stakeholders, such as international
organizations, governments, the private sector, local communities,
and individuals, all taking responsibility.
- Many expressed concerns that
governments today are not fulfilling their hopes or representing
their generation’s views. Two thirds believe that global
institutions like the United Nations are more representative of
them, rather than national or local governments (61% vs. 48% and
44%). Out of the 15 countries surveyed, millennials in:
- US, UK, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and
Germany said, after global institutions, their local government
represented them better than their national governments.
- China, Egypt, Indonesia, and Vietnam
said, after global institutions, their national government
represented them better than their local governments.
- Canada, Russia, and the UAE said their
national government represented them better than global
institutions and their local governments.
- And in India, they said, global
institutions and national governments represent them equally, while
in South Africa they believe that their national and local
governments represented them equally, after global
institutions.
Unity and Inclusiveness
There are mixed sentiments regarding whether the world is at
peace, given concerns that increased racism and nativism may pose a
threat to global citizenship and an open world. Millennials believe
the most important trait to eradicate social discrimination is
ensuring that there is respect for diversity.
- Millennials are more divided than they
are united about whether or not the world is currently at peace.
Nearly 8 out of 10 say the world is more divided now than it was in
2015. More than half believe it will be more divided by 2030 (53%),
while more than four out of 10 believe the world will be more
united (47%).
- Those surveyed identify racism and a
fear of immigrants as the biggest threats to global citizenship and
an open world (36%), followed by nationalist politics, religious
differences, and outdated immigration policies.
- The most important traits for achieving
global citizenship and eradicating social discrimination is
ensuring that there is respect for diversity and the ability to
embrace other countries. Those surveyed identify respect for
diversity (46%), the ability to embrace other cultures (43%), and
adaptability (39%) as the most important traits of a global
citizen.
- These future shapers believe that
tackling issues of racism, xenophobia, religious intolerance,
gender inequality, and freedom to be anywhere in the world are
important to creating an ideal future world. A future free of
racism (42%); barriers based on gender, religion, culture, or
nationality (38%); and the ability to live, work, and play anywhere
in the world (37%) were cited as the three most important factors
for success.
The study consisted of a 15-country survey of
11,060 millennials (ages 20 to 36) with a +1.0% margin of error
globally. The survey was completed in the following countries:
Australia (n=1,104, +3.0%), Brazil (n=660, +4.0%), Canada (1,004,
+3.0%), China (n=731, +3.0%), Egypt (n=578, +4.0%), Germany (n=505,
+4.0%), India (n=844, +3.0%), Indonesia (n=716, +4.0%), Mexico
(n=654, +4.0%), Russia (n=654,+4.0%), South Africa (n=664, +4.0%),
the United Arab Emirates (n=500, +4.0%), the United Kingdom
(n=1,009, +3.0%), the United States (n=1,004, +3.0%), and Vietnam
(n=523, +4.0%). A full report for each country as well as the
global results is available upon request. The research was
conducted by Research Now via online interviews from September 26
to October 6, 2017.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005572/en/
Western Union Media Contacts:Global:Pia De Lima,
1-954-260-5732pia.delima@wu.comorNorth America:Sarah Meske,
1-303-250-9102sarah.meske@wu.comorLatin America:Paula
Barifouse, +1-954-803-8589paula.barifouse@wu.comorEU &
CIS:Carolina Laurijssen, +44 (0) 7740 542
203carolina.laurijssen@wu.comorAsia-Pacific:Ingrid Sahu, +97
14 437-3656ingrid.sahu@wu.comorFleishman Media
Contacts:FleishmanHillard
USfh.wu.mto@fleishman.comorFleishmanHillard
UKWU.CABWTY@fhflondon.co.ukorFleishmanHillard
CanadaJannine.Rane@fleishman.ca
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