While exploring how present-day actions might affect the future, evaluation methods that are holistic, taking many different aspects of success into account, will be key. A ‘Doughnut Economics’ approach can provide useful insights, as it includes a range of social and environmental factors and emphasises balance rather than narrowly-defined profit maximisation.
Conventional Cost-Benefit Analyses, on the other hand, are best avoided: not only do they attempt to reduce the measurement of success to a simple monetary value; they also literally discount the future!
Housing is a particularly interesting area to explore in terms of intergenerational fairness. A move away from the commodification and treatment of housing as a speculative asset would ease considerable financial and time pressure on the younger generation, freeing up valuable energy for more productive activities, including addressing the environmental crisis.
But decommodifying housing can present a challenge for older generations whose pensions may depend - at least in part - on returns from real estate investments.
This ties in with a much larger conversation that will be needed about debt, investments (including pension funds), and the relationship between the money supply and the future.
Plenty of discussion and untangling will be needed to resolve these complex issues, but skilful and respectful facilitation will help the process along - with some help from the arts, to stimulate our imaginations.