What are people’s top concerns in OECD countries? The OECD’s Risks that Matter (RTM) survey provides key insights into people’s perceptions of the social and economic risks they face. The 2022 edition also asks about perceptions of topical events, such as rising inflation, climate change or national security, which are presented here along with long-term worries – beyond the next decade.
When asked about topical events, worries about inflation are at the top of respondents’ minds. On average, 91% of respondents indicate they are “concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about inflation and the cost of living (Figure 3.1). Financial worries are concentrated among parents of dependent children and among respondents in lower-income households, who are especially concerned about their ability to pay for food, housing, energy and paying down debt. This trend is particularly pronounced in countries like Ireland, Israel, and Norway, where respondents in lower-income households are significantly more likely to report feeling financial pressure compared to those in top-income households.
Apart from financial concerns, the most-cited worries coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic are the lack of mental health care for those in need (82%) and the consequences of climate change (77%). While the ranking of these concerns varies by country, both stand out as preoccupying more than two thirds of respondents in all RTM countries (except for Latvia) (Figure 3.1). Despite the widespread economic turmoil and sense of financial instability, climate change is the third most concerning event, topping both concern over national security due to the 2022 geopolitical situation as well as concern about low job quality for many current jobs.
Looking ahead to the next decade, many report being worried about longer-term risks to personal finances and health. The most commonly reported risk, “not being financially secure in old age,” has 75% of respondents worried on average across countries (Figure 3.2). This has been a consistent long-term concern since the RTM first ran in 2018. A majority of people across RTM countries report worrying about this, ranging from 90% in Chile to 59% in the Netherlands. “Accessing good-quality healthcare” is the second-most chosen source of concern, with 71% of respondents saying they worry about this on average across countries. At the upper end of the spectrum, 91% worry about this in Chile while just 51% do so in Switzerland (Figure 3.2).
These widespread long-term worries about financial risk and access to healthcare reflect the shorter-term focus on not being able to make ends meet and accessing good-quality healthcare. These are also consistent with observations from the 2020 wave, where worries about health and finances were the most prevalent.
