The annual special launches this week, featuring future-gazing content from
The Economist's editorial team and global contributors
LONDON,Nov. 15, 2022/PRNewswire/ --The Economisthas launchedThe World Ahead, an annual special year-end issue fromThe Economistthat examines important themes, trends and events that will shape the coming year.The editor's top ten themes for 2023and the accompanying articles are online today onhttps://www.economist.com/the-world-ahead-2023.The full edition will be available digitally fromNovember 18th, and in print on global newsstands beginningNovember 29th(later inthe United Statesdue to the Thanksgiving holiday).
Reflecting on this year's edition ofThe World Ahead, its editorTom Standageobserves that "after two years in which the pandemic was the force shaping the immediate future, the main driver now is the war inUkraine.In the coming months the world will have to grapple with unpredictability around the conflict's impact on geopolitics and security; the struggle to control inflation; chaos in energy markets; andChina'suncertain post-pandemic path."
The World Aheaddiscusses a broad range of topics, but its top ten themes for 2023, distilled from its pages, are as follows:
- All eyes onUkraine.Energy prices, inflation, interest rates, economic growth, food shortages—all depend on how the conflict plays out in the coming months. Rapid progress byUkrainecould threaten Vladimir Putin, but a grinding stalemate seems the most likely outcome.Russiawill try to string out the conflict in the hope that energy shortages, and political shifts in America, will undermine Western support forUkraine.
- Recessions loom.Major economies will go into recession as central banks raise interest rates to stifle inflation, an after-effect of the pandemic, now inflamed by high energy prices. America's recession should be relatively mild;Europe'swill be more brutal. The pain will be global as the strong dollar hurts poor countries already hit by soaring food prices.
- Climate silver lining.As countries rush to secure their energy supplies, they are turning back to dirty fossil fuels. But in the medium term the war will accelerate the switch to renewables as a safer alternative to hydrocarbons supplied by autocrats. As well as wind and solar, nuclear and hydrogen will benefit too.
- PeakChina.Sometime in April,China'spopulation will be overtaken byIndia's, at around 1.43bn. WithChina'spopulation in decline, and its economy facing headwinds, expect much discussion of whetherChinahas peaked. Slower growth means its economy may never overtake America's in size.
- Divided America.Although Republicans did worse than expected in the midterm elections, social and cultural divides on abortion, guns and other hot-button issues continue to widen after a string of contentious Supreme Court rulings.Donald Trump'sformal entry into the 2024 presidential race will pour fuel on the fire.
- Flashpoints to watch.The intense focus on the war inUkraineheightens the risk of conflict elsewhere. WithRussiadistracted, conflicts are breaking out in its backyard.Chinamay decide that there will never be a better time to make a move onTaiwan.India-Chinatensions could flare in the Himalayas.
- Shifting alliances.Amid geopolitical shifts, alliances are responding. NATO, revitalised by the war inUkraine, will welcome two new members. WillSaudi Arabiajoin the Abraham accords, an emerging bloc? Other groupings of growing importance include the Quad and AUKUS (two American-led clubs intended to deal withChina'srise) and I2U2—not a rock band, but a sustainability forum linkingIndia,Israel,United Arab Emiratesandthe United States.
- Revenge tourism.As travellers engage in post-lockdown "revenge" tourism, traveller spending will regain its 2019 level of1.34美元的环境, but only because inflation has pushed up prices. The actual number of international tourist trips, at 1.6bn, will still be below the pre-pandemic level of 1.8bn in 2019. Business travel will remain weak as firms cut costs.
- Metaverse reality check.Will the idea of working and playing in virtual worlds catch on beyond video games? 2023 will provide some answers as Apple launches its first headset and Meta decides whether to change its strategy as its share price languishes. Meanwhile, a less complicated and more immediately useful shift may be the rise of "passkeys" to replace passwords.
- New year, new jargon.NIMBYs are out and YIMBYs are in; cryptocurrencies are uncool and post-quantum cryptography is hot; but can you define a frozen conflict, or synfuel? We've got you covered. Our special section, "Understand This", rounds up the vital vocabulary that it will be helpful to know in 2023.
The Economist's journalists are joined inThe World Ahead 2023by leaders from business, politics, science and the arts, who add their ideas for the coming year:Nicola Sturgeon, first minister ofScotland;Eric Adams, mayor ofNew York City;心肌梗死a Mottley, prime minister ofBarbados;Mori Masako, former minister for gender equality,Japan;Yuan Feng, co-founder of Equality;Kuseni Dlamini, chairman of Massmart and Aspencare;Vanessa Nakate, climate activist, UNICEF goodwill ambassador and author;Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy;Roz Brewer, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance;Kim Povlsen, president, Universal Robots;Tayo Oviosu, founder and CEO, Paga;Jack Hidary, CEO, SandboxAQ; andBrian Eno, musician, artist and activist.
AboutThe Economist(economist.com)
With a growing global audience and a reputation for insightful analysis and perspective on every aspect of world events,The Economistis one of the most widely recognised and well-read current-affairs publications in the world. In addition to the weekly print and digital editions and website,The Economistpublishes Espresso, a daily news app, and Global Business Review, a bilingual English-Chinese product. It produces The Intelligence, a daily current-affairs podcast, several other weekly podcasts and short- and long-form video.The Economistmaintains robust social communities on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networks.
SOURCE The Economist
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