Next Generation Myanmar > 41 Figure 15: Actions important for securing lasting peace Federalism Giving self-determination to the states Promoting a common Myanmar identity Working more closely with international institutions Strengthening the civilian government Promoting equality of the different ethnic communities Strengthening the education system Tackling poverty Fostering economic development 0 20 40 Neither important nor unimportant Do not know Important Unimportant 60 80 100 60 80 100 Figure 16: Importance of federalism to lasting peace Majority ethnic identity Minority ethnic identity 0 In contrast, approximately nine out of ten youth felt economic development (88.9 per cent), tackling poverty (88.4 per cent), and strengthening the education system (75 per cent) would lead to lasting peace. In interviews, youth felt that better education would help combat discrimination, while fair employment opportunities would begin to close wealth gaps between groups. Some explicitly dismissed the 20 40 Neither important nor unimportant Do not know Important Unimportant government’s focus on high-level political arrangements, many of which were included in the government’s Youth Policy. ‘They focus a lot on peace, religion, federalism… it is too big. I am more in support of township, family-level initiatives,’ said one youth leader in Yangon when asked about the Youth Policy. ‘They talk about peace, but there is nothing concrete… we need employment!’ Notably, some groups were more likely to agree that federalism was important than others: 43.4 per cent of survey respondents that identified as ethnic minorities felt federalism was important, compared to just 32.8 per cent of majority-ethnic respondents (see Figure 16). They were also more likely to feel that granting self-determination to states and promoting a common Myanmar identity were important to lasting peace.