A number of major and minor forces affecting youth were identified and grouped together to select "key driving forces," i.e., those issues most critical to the future of the 1980's youth population. These include demographics, youth employment, the role of schools/education, family structure and culture, youth lifestyles, income distribution, and education and technology. An issue paper is presented on each of the key driving forces. The core of each issue paper is a description of "base case" trends and possible alternative trends. The base case outlook for each issue is a possible and plausible evolution of current conditions. Issue papers also include "wild cards" and linkages. Wild cards are isolated, discontinuous events that could alter the direction of the trends. Linkages are listed because the key driving forces are not independent of one another. Each of the key driving forces is described against a background of no significant changes from current conditions. In considering public policy implications of the trends, the report states the generally accepted outlook in each area of public policy and suggests ways in which the base-case trends might alter the common wisdom. Figures and 19-item bibliography