In 1942, the world was ravaged by war. As bombs obliterated cities and the seas churned with gunfire, the British economist William Beveridge was hard at work on a government report.¹

The Beveridge Report transformed this country. Its recommendations led to the Welfare StateA safety net put in place by the government to ensure that no-one falls into poverty.. This included child benefits, better pensions and the creation of the National Health Service.

Today many people are crying out for bold, big changes. Dozens of campaign groups and activists seek to push their ideas into the political agenda. And, as Britain moves towards a general election, politicians are looking for ideas to win votes.

This week The Day looked at three of today's biggest ideas. 

One is the 15-hour working week, first suggested by economist John Maynard Keynes in 1930, under which everyone would work just three hours a day. 

Another is Universal Basic Income, where the state gives everyone enough money to live a life of relative comfort without them having to work in return. 

Finally is the idea of a world without human-drawn borders, where people are free to move wherever they like over the planet.

These are far from the only big ideas floating around. Here are seven more ideas that might shape the world to come.

Bring back executions. Today, 55 countries in the world have the death penaltyAlthough Barrett has said that, as a Christian, she would not order the death penalty, she has not actually opposed it..² In 2022 there were 883 legal executions worldwide.³ The UK officially banned the death penalty in 1998,⁴ but some right-wing politicians want to bring it back because they think it will deter would-be criminals, as well as reducing the prison population.

Votes for youths. In Britain, 16-year olds can learn to drive, get married and work. And yet they are not allowed to vote, even though today's political decisions will affect their future. Some think they deserve this power.

Scaling back. Countries have chased economic growthThe process through which a country's wealth increases over time. for decades. Some believe this has created more inequality and fuelled climate change. To save the world we must instead achieve degrowth: a gradual reduction of energy and resource use.

Character building. Last month, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would bring back national service.⁵ He announced that 18-year olds would be forced to either join the army or take up some sort of community activity. Sunak says this will give youths a "shared sense of purpose".

AI takeover. In April, the Cabinet OfficeThe Cabinet Office is part of the centre of government, alongside No 10 Downing Street and the Treasury. Its head office is near Downing Street.  expanded an AI trial. It aims to analyse and summarise government papers, doing work currently undertaken by civil servantsAnyone working in a government department. The civil service has long-standing traditions and strict codes of conduct that can make it a law unto itself.. Supporters claim this will make public services more efficient.

Age limit. In many Western countries, retired people make up a huge section of society. They are often the most likely group to vote.⁶ Politicians tend to favour them over the young. Some think this is unfair. There should be a maximum voting age so that older people can make way for those who own the future.

Dying well. Some people die after a long and painful illness. Campaigners support assisted dying: the right to choose to die peacefully rather than live in suffering. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is "personally in favour".⁷

Which would you vote for?

All change! Tough times call for tough measures. Humanity faces huge challenges. Our current course is not working. We need to try something different.

Humans are problem-solvers. Innovations have improved our lives, from the wheel to cooking, electricity to human rights. We should revive that spirit.

Hold steady... There is a reason these ideas are from the fringes. Although they might present some benefits, they also have dramatic costs that many people do not want to face. 

Look to history: many attempts at bold change have caused suffering, from Soviet communist purges to Liz Truss's disastrous budget.