Foresight – A significant input to policy

The coronavirus pandemic has brought an acute shock to the global economy. The immediate challenge for governments is to start the process of economic recovery while protecting the health of citizens. The pandemic also poses fundamental longer-term questions about what societies across the world most value, how they should prepare for future public health shocks, and what should be the future social contract between governments and citizens. Add to this a possible no trade agreement Brexit and the impact of climate change and you have ‘a perfect storm’. Advances in science and technology, such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy, offer both threats (e.g. unemployment) and opportunities (e.g. new services and better jobs) in this difficult societal context. How are we on the island of Ireland going to address these economic and social threats and opportunities? Foresight is one tool that seems particularly suited to the current challenge.