Purpose

The generation born in the early 1970s has been shaped by some of the most significant social, political and economic changes in the history of the UK. The purpose of the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70) is to document the lives of the very special ‘Generation X’.

By following you throughout your lives, researchers are able to understand:

  • how our experiences as children affect how we turn out as adults
  • how different areas of our lives, such as health, wealth, family, education and employment, are linked
  • how these aspects of life vary for people from different walks of life.

We share what we learn from your experiences with government and service providers. Our aim is to inform policies and services that will help make life better for your generation and younger ones too.

BCS70 is the third in a long line of cohort studies, following generations of Britons born in 1946, 1958, 1970 (you), and 2000-01. By comparing the experiences of different generations, we can track how life in the UK is changing.