This briefing covers key findings on the cost of living from CaSE’s Discovery Decade 2022-23 public attitudes study, which comprised four nationally-representative surveys polling a total of 18,000 people, and 14 focus groups. It includes statistics and the opinions of focus group participants, and identifies three key points:
- R&D advocates must recognise the realities of the cost of living crisis, which was people’s preeminent concern throughout our research
- Concerns about the cost of living pose a risk to support for R&D investment
- Faced with financial pressures, the public are divided on whether R&D is a luxury that can’t be afforded right now or a vital tool to build a better future
