Mapping and Increasing Americans’ Actual and Perceived Support for Initiatives Protecting Future Generations

Across eight pre-registered studies with both convenience and representative samples of American adults (N = 6,464), we provide strong evidence of widespread support for Initiatives for Future Generations (IFGs)—institutions and policies designed to ensure political representation for future generations. Despite broad bipartisan support, Americans significantly underestimate how much their peers favor these initiatives, a phenomenon known as pluralistic ignorance. Nonetheless, providing accurate information about actual levels of IFG support corrects these misperceptions and boosts individual support. Additionally, interventions targeting intergenerational concern—frequently used in the field—effectively enhance support for IFGs without increasing pluralistic ignorance as an unintended consequence, suggesting that such interventions are a promising approach to fostering support for pro-future institutions and policies. Nonetheless, merely correcting pluralistic ignorance offers a promising avenue for boosting support as well, opening avenues for future research to investigate whether interventions as simple as correcting misperceptions may inspire more vocal support for IFGs and engagement in pro-future collective action. In sum, our findings suggest that policymakers have a clear opportunity to act by recognizing the broad public support for IFGs and implementing policies to protect future generations, ensuring long-term welfare without alienating any demographic.