Societal Challenges
Return to GC Chapters Complex Challenge List Societal Challenges List - See Institutions
1. Climate Change
2. Environmental
- Air
- Water
- Land Use, etc.
3. Systemic Racism
- Also called institutional or structural
4. Criminal Justice
- Jail Involved (20 million people)
- Drug Possession
- Addiction
5. Civil Justice
- Liberties
- Racial Discrimination
- Gender equality
- Sexual Orientation
6. Guns
7. Digitalization
- Data privacy
- Digital monopolies
- Online security
- Algorithmic bias
8. Public Health
- Research, vaccinations, education (alcohol, tobacco)
- Worker safety standards, school nutrition
- Track Disease outbreaks, pandemics
- Promote guidelines and legislation (Smoking bans, air quality, seat belts) based on science.
9. Mental Health & Addictions
- Deaths of Despair (Suicide, Drug Overdose, Alcohol-related)
10. Health
- Individual health
- Manage chronic conditions - obesity,
11. Healthcare
- Affordability - Cost
- Access
- Healthcare Insurance
- Coordinated
- Health Outcomes
12. Consumer Safety
- Food,
- Products,
- Transportation
13. Public Safety
- Policing
- Law enforcement
- Fire
- Emergency Medical Services
14. Safety Net
- Food Stamps
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Worker's Compensation
- Unemployment
- Social Security disability benefits (SSDI)
- Medicaid & CHIP
- School Lunches
- Housing & Utilities support
15. National Security
- Homeland Security
- Cybersecurity
- Domestic Terrorism
- Military Threats
16. Globalization
- Governments Stability vs Values (i.e., Middle East, China, others)
- Global Conflicts
- Election Tampering
- Domestic Supply Chain
- Cyberseurity
17. Infrastructure
- Transportation – roads, bridges, etc.
- Energy
- Water
- Broadband
- Cell Service
18. Quality Neighborhoods
- Safety
- Parks
- Schools
- Food
19. Community Resources
- Social Capital (Alienated America)
- Churches
- Social Organizations
- Essential Services - Food, Consumables, Hospitals, Doctors, Mental Health
20. Taxes
21. Research
- Basic Science
- Climate Change
- Health - Cancer treatment discoveries
22. Social Security & Retirement
- Retirement Income
- Social Security System
23. Political System
- Functional Legislature
- Elections - fair
- Representitive Government
- Mission and Goals - reflect the people
24. Polarization
25. Immigration
- Citizenship
- Worker Visas
- DACA
26. Economy
- Economic Growth
- Employment
- Interest Rates
27. Jobs
- Future of Work
- Job Disruptions (Change, AI, Automation, Robots)
- Retrain, redistribute, Universal Basis Income, reduce hours
- Middle Income Jobs – Good Paying Jobs
- Gig Work - Employee vs. Contractor - need new classifications
28. Economic Sustainability
- Depletion of non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels, metals, and minerals
- Enough food, water and energy – that can support a human population
- Aging Population - Enough young to care for the old
- Workforce - farms, etc.
- Pandemic Disruptions
29. Entrepreneurship
- Small Business
- Business Start-ups
30. Funding
- Bonds
- Stocks
- Banking
- Home Loans
- Credit Cards
- Student Loans
- Financil Aid
- Venture Capital
31. Education
- Cradle to full-time employment
32. Homelessness
33. Housing
- Neighborhoods, Local schools, etc.
34. Poverty
35. Debt & Wealth
- Individual
- Government
36. Employment Transitions
- Job Loss
- Career advancement
- Apprentices
- Job Training
37. Income Inequality
38. Income mobility
39. Individual Well-Being
Safety & Security
1. Climate Change
2. Environmental
3. Mental Health & Addictions
4. Civil Justice
5. Systemic Racism
6. Digitalization
7. Guns
8. Public Health
9. Health
10. Healthcare
11. Consumer Safety
12. Public Safety
13. Safety Net
14. National Security
16. Globalization
17. Infrastructure
18. Quality Neighborhoods
19. Community Resources
20. Criminal Justice Reform
21. Taxes
22. Research
23. Social Security & Retirement
24. Political System
24. Immigration
Economic Capitalism
16. Globalization
17. Infrastructure
20. Taxes
21. Research
24. Immigration
25. Economy
26. Jobs
27. Economic Sustainability
28. Entrepreneurship
Enablement Capitalism
3. Mental Health & Addiction
4. Civil Justice
5. Systemic Racism
9. Health
19. Criminal Justice Reform
20. Taxes
21. Research
22. Political System
23. Immigration
27. Entrepreneurship
29. Education
30. Homelessness
31. Housing
32. Poverty
33. Debt & Wealth
34. Employment Transitions
35. Income Inequality
36. Income mobility
37. Overall Well-Being