Lanxiety about the future hasn’t made us more individualistic. It is, in a nutshell, to use the words of Rossano Bartoli, Spokesperson of the Solidarity Testament Committee and President of the League of the Golden Threadwhat emerges from theSurvey on the Orientations of Italians towards Donations and the Solidarity Testamentpresented on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity Bequest.
War, climate crisis, pandemic: Italians see black
The first data highlighted by the research, promoted by the Committee and conducted by Walden Lab on a sample of 1006 people aged between 25 and 75 (statistically representative sample of about 40 million Italians) is pessimism. P.er 7 out of 10 citizens, thinking about the future generates a sense of uncertainty and helplessnesswhile only 3 out of 10 are encouraged to commit to building a better world.
Research has also revealed one little optimism about the future of Italy: 45% think that in the next 10 years the country will get worse, only 25% expect improvements. The most recurrent worries are diseases (64%), physical decay (47%), economic difficulties (45%), loneliness (34%). For the future instead the most widespread fear is linked to the climate crisis (53%) followed by wars (44%), rising poverty (40%) and pandemics (37%). Issues that were much more felt until a few years ago, such as the increase in migratory flows (15%) and terrorism (10%), are moving back to the last positions.
Pessimists yes, individualists no
And yet the survey also highlights a marked propensity for solidarity: in short, pessimists yes, individualists no. In 2022, 38% of Italians declared to have made donations, at least one, 10 points more than in each of the previous 2 years and the amount of the average donation jumped to 118 eurosagainst 90 in 2021 and 77 in 2020. In general, 71% of Italians have donated at least once in their life.
Among the causes sustained in the last 12 months, medical-scientific research is on the rise (45% vs 37% in 2021) ed humanitarian emergencies (28% vs 15% in 2021). Donations for the protection of the artistic heritage remain at the bottom (3% vs 5% in 2021). Among the criteria for choosing the supported organization, the theme of trust is growing significantly: 61% declare that they have donated to an organization they trust (it was 44% in 2021).
The solidarity legacy: more and more over 50s choose it
Not only that, the propensity for solidarity legacy is also growing, that is, the possibility, in the will, to allocate a part of the assetsthe so-called “available”, to a solidarity bequest, and therefore support a charitable project post mortemwithout affecting the rights of the heirs.
Almost 8 out of 10 Italians over 50 know, to begin with, what it is. A figure that is up compared to 73% in 2021. Also in 2022, 26% declare that they have done it or are inclined to do so, 4 percentage points more than the previous year. Compared to the average of respondents, these people are more focused on the future (+ 3%), in particular that of Italy (+ 10%), the planet (+5) and their loved ones (+4). Furthermore, those who have made or are inclined to make a solidarity legacy are more concerned about pollution (+ 7%), wars (+ 5%), overpopulation (+ 4%) and migration (+ 4%).
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