They Predict What Spain Will Be Like in 15 Years: "We Need to Reinvent Ourselves"

In Spain, there is a widespread tendency to warn about negative things that are constantly approaching our society. However, a group of 28 experts coordinated by strategic advisor Francisco Abad has predicted that Spain will undergo a positive transformation in the next 15 years, as discussed in 'In 15 Years', the book they have published. The prediction is based on the premise that the problems we are concerned about have relatively simple solutions, although it will all depend on how our country adapts to technologies and seeks the right way to manage them.

The authors of this book assure us that the three most probable trends for 2030 will be that "citizens will react to eliminate the political, economic, and social actions that currently outrage us", that "the aging population will transform society", and that "we will be more active in initiatives that contribute to a better future". Based on these three premises, they discuss the three blocks that will experience this significant transformation.

Although there are voices warning that 47% of current jobs are at risk of disappearing due to technological advances, these experts claim that many new ones will emerge. "Work will be much more collaborative, developed more in teams, and we will be more aware of what we share. We will work fewer hours, only two-thirds of what we do now, but we won't be unemployed, as we will dedicate part of the day to unpaid activities that interest us," they point out in the book. They also mention that "we aren't going to be in the same job all day and will have to reinvent ourselves. We will become entrepreneurs offering our ideas and our services to large companies, which will be few and even more global."

An increasing population, combined with a longer life expectancy, will lead to problems related to elderly care. Therefore, experts point out that "we will live longer and better, probably up to 120 years. We will need universal services at affordable prices, such as teleassistance or telemedicine, because, with so many people, the welfare system won't be able to cover it, especially with traditional methods." In another aspect, they also predict that "we will reinvent ourselves collectively. For instance, we will see older communities that have contracted common services."

The third major change will occur in the state of well-being. We will focus more on ourselves, but in a different way. Security, respect, harmony with nature, expanding our consciousness, and living better with less will be the foundational pillars of our well-being in the coming decade, according to this group of experts. New ways of socializing will provoke a change in personality on a global level: "Until now, we have been models of people with our roots deep; perhaps now we should have more leaves outwards," they point out in the book.

Finally, Francisco Abad urges us to set aside our pessimism about the future and not to be carried away by negativity: "We need to be optimistic. Let's not complain, as we're not doing so poorly, and the best proof is that very few want to leave here. No matter how bad it gets, nobody wants to pack up and leave," he asserts metaphorically.