Why the social-media-created collective contempt for truth risks seriously undermining social and political life as we know it. How the tech billionaires who helped create this dystopia are planning to protect themselves (not the rest of us) from its fallout. In Europe, immediate protection again energy prices must not delay incentives to save energy. Using economic sanctions as a [...]
Just how good AI is getting needs to be taken seriously. How China-US rivalry could be a source of self-renewal not mutual destruction. Whatever measures the government takes, its burst real-estate bubble remains a threat to the Chinese economy. The current geopolitical crisis in Europe should be harnessed to spur speedy execution in critical areas of innovation. Fitness fads [...]
Why global economic and political turbulence would flow from a Chinese water crisis. For different reasons, China and Russia ‘enjoy’ trade surpluses, but for both this is a sign of weakness. After 6 months Russia is not winning the war in Ukraine, but this doesn’t mean Ukraine will. Why a ‘good-enough’ life can prove more than good enough. Mind [...]
Big brother is monitoring and measuring how we work. It's time for India to join the UN Security Council. The dramatic collapse of a crypto hedge fund. The power of effective altruism. Higher intelligence does’t only look like us [...]
The disproportionate power of dis- and misinformation. The exponential effect of human activity on the severity of climate anomalies. The Chinese record-breaking trade surplus exposed as a weakness. The energy-challenges facing Europe this winter don’t need to be catastrophic. The rich relationship that asks only that you be yourself - it’s called friendship [...]
What’s wrong with today’s world order. What motivates the messianic self-deprivation of tech CEOs. Why the economy is giving off strange, hard to interpret, vibes. The mathematical mystery of zero. Why falling back in love with reading is one of the most cognitively beneficial things we can do [...]
Why drought management is no longer optional. How the Kremlin’s propaganda machine is outpacing the EU - with serious consequences. Why the Chinese property market could be in for a hard landing. Some experts’ reflections on the pros and cons of remote working. Making the right decision isn’t as rational a process as we might think is. [...]
Can the risk of stagflation morphing into a debt crisis be avoided? Can the world avoid a profound energy crisis? Can we change our way of considering our relationship with nature fast enough to alter fundamental policy and investment decisions? Can we achieve a healthier (ultimately more productive) work-life balance? Can admitting to being ‘wrong’ actually turn out to [...]
“Magic money” loses its lustre. Twitter vs Musk distilled. Scandinavia leads global efforts to close the gender gap - for others there’s still a long way to go. Why BA5’s impact on infection and re-infection means the pandemic is still taking a toll. Tips on how to conserve our memories [...]
A new ‘productivism’ model for a post neo-liberalist era. Why populism is the political and societal fallout of major economic crises. Why only responsible use of the Earth's resources can bring us back from the brink. Why making our goals reasonable, rather than our will-power will help us achieve them. Why writers write [...]
Dr Doom sees a looming global recession and its contingent financial turmoil. Some important must-knows about crypto. What the EU is doing to stave off an energy supply crisis. Why the health risks from air pollution may be greater than we thought. A clinical psychologist's action-oriented antidote to the anxiety generated by all the above [...]
The whys and wherefores of 'conspiracy theory politics' explained. Why grain is blocked in Ukraine and the global consequences. Globalisation is more under transformation than in retreat. Sentiments fuelling the great resignation have reached some board rooms. Why sleeping well is vital but need not be complicated to achieve [...]
Progress studies - but progress for who? The ongoing impact of Covid could be longer, wider and deeper than initially thought. Why climate-risk disclosure should become mandatory. Why our ‘market societies’ fail to value old age. How an optimistic outlook can be self-fulfilling [...]
A period of stagflation is a quasi certainty, but there are policies that could attenuate how long it lasts. The extent of the international food crisis explained in graphics. Two books explaining how on the internet we are simultaneously the source of most content and the ones being manipulated by it. There is a pandemic-induced tech bubble and it [...]
A lesson to learn from the industrial revolution: sustained technological innovation underpins economic growth. Some lesser known lessons to learn from the conflict in Ukraine. How scientists have learnt to forecast famine. The only certainty about Covid that unites the scientists is uncertainty about its evolution. There's lots of science that tells us that what we eat does effect [...]
Why a Goldilocks scenario for the world economy (not too hot, not too cold) is just that - a fairy tale. The only scenario that would see an end to the war in Ukraine is Putin losing it. Why the displacement effect scenario in relation to China could see India reaping the benefits. Why different ‘menus' suit different ages, and why childlike wonder suits them all.
The connection between commodity prices, growth and inflation explained. How corruption explains the poor performance of the ‘mighty’ Russian army. In Idaho, far right supremacy is no longer a worst-case scenario - it's becoming a reality. The ups and downs of cryptocurrency explained - it could still be a game changer, but not just now. Why how you say something matters [...]
Disproportionate fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine has changed the world. How scientists are keeping hope alive for our world, despite all the bad climate news. Why despite everything, the US $ looks set to remain the world’s dominant reserve currency. What food might look (and taste) like in tomorrow’s world. How many real friends do we need? [...]
A recession trifecta is a real possibility in the very near future. Unimaginable climate conditions are no longer something imaginable in the future - in India and Pakistan they are today’s tragic reality. Putin has given NATO a future. As an antidote to connected isolation, shared rituals and narratives and temporal stability could give a sense [...]
Multiple supply shocks are contributing to stagflation - only tech innovation could counter this. Why the war in Ukraine has pushed food prices to an all-time high and some countries to the brink of a dire humanitarian crisis. Multiple conspiracy theories now underpin the decision making in the Kremlin. How a fictitious Russia in 2028, as described in a [...]
Developing countries are facing a deadly perfect storm - rich economies can and must avert this disaster. Decision making bias can undermine confidence in ESG investing - we can and must go beyond flawed mental models. How ’nature-positive’ solutions can and must be used to tackle the climate crisis. When it comes to productivity, looking at the science might [...]
How social media has undermined our societies, and why things must change if they are to be conserved. Ominous signs of shifts towards extreme nationalism in multiple guises are ubiquitous. Why international debt re-structuring is the only option to stave off a debt disaster in emerging and developing economies. Why it is so unlikely that the siloviki will support a regime [...]
Global order will not be determined through European conflicts, but by the contest in Asia. Capitalism will not survive unless it becomes more equitable. Containing global warming to 1.5 C will not be possible without widespread and profound emission reductions – now! How the democratic system in Hungary was unpicked, stitch by stitch. How neuro-ergonomic ploys and toys can [...]
How war-induced food inflation disproportionately impacts the poor. How IT handed a disproportionate military advantage to a small Ukrainian assault force. How tech could help in the ever-worsening supply chain crisis. Should we be wary of Twitter experts? Why less really can be more when it comes to ‘stuff’.
What’s happening in Ukraine is inextricably related to what’s going (gone) on internally in Russia over many years. Why increased poverty and food insecurity (particularly in poorer countries) is becoming an external consequence of the war. How the war has changed the world. If the world is to have a chance in the face of climate change, internal policy [...]
Why it matters that Putin is a spy not a soldier. Why further de-globalization risks being the fallout from the financial ‘war’ being waged on Russia. How literature and history can help us better understand the momentous events of today. How climate policy and energy security policy are coalescing in Europe. How10 innovative technologies could shape the future of [...]
Financial analysts are underestimating the risk of ‘unintentional escalation’ in Ukraine - any hope of avoiding it necessitates a prompt response and some very hard choices for the West. Will the West choose to crack down on tax evasion and dark money? Activists in Brazil are determined that potentially catastrophic policy choices for the Amazon forest won’t slip through unnoticed. How ad [...]
Putin will stop at nothing. Endgame scenarios from a Western perspective plus one from Russia. Why TikTok suits the chaos of war and helps hinder the truth. How youth activism plans to wrench up the tension of climate politics to a new level - before it’s too late.
The change wrought on Europe by the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be profound and long-lived. How exactly the offensive will play out is difficult to predict but large scale civilian bloodshed and an ensuing refugee crisis is possible, if not likely. The regulatory system must change to encourage a more 'nature positive' economy. What the pandemic has changed [...]
The fallout of unexpectedly persistent global inflation touches all, but the solutions lie mainly with the major central banks. Could the pandemic’s fallout on today’s labour market share some characteristics with the social turmoil that followed the 14th century Black Death? What will be the impact of wellness on that post-Covid society? There’s more than we might imagine that [...]
Why crypto requires a rapid regulatory response. Why a conspiratorial amalgam of anti-vax, anti-government, pro-‘liberty’ doesn’t bode well. A new analytical tool delivers a stark message about wealth distribution in the US. Why an anachronistic white sense of superiority has skewed the reading of recent history - and why this is about to change. Why working on wanting less [...]
There really is no such thing as a free lunch. If things are to get better, not worse, a new social contract is not an option, it's a must have. There are cogent arguments that a Russian invasion and out and out conflict in Ukraine are improbable. Images can speak louder than words: the pictures that changed Boris Johnson’s mind on [...]
What lies behind Putin’s bravado may be unclear, but it has re-clarified NATO’s raison d’etre. Why stocks and bonds could both fall foul to inflation. A net 0 to do list for and from world business leaders. A life free from any pain is probably also lacking purpose. What differentiates hope and optimism? Unlike optimism, hope doesn’t deny pain, [...]
What can and should democracy do in face of the threat posed by technology. Economic growth and social equity can and should work hand in hand. Why concerns about NFTs could be more profound than meets the eye. Why choosing what we want to know (and not know) makes sense and why it also makes sense not to be [...]
Can technology be blamed for increasing inequalities? Should the market be bearish about equities in 2022? How must our ideas of success and wellbeing change if we are to avoid an over-consumption-driven disaster? Where are we making progress? Can Western-style diet be blamed for rising numbers of auto-immune diseases?
Why we must pay attention to paying attention – now. Western “fossil-fuel hypocrisy” and the risk of a green finance bubble. What future for Armenia? Ask her President. What are the implications of money flows feeling so fake? How learning to listen can yield rich rewards.
Water becomes an asset class. Inflation is no longer transitory. The good and the bad news about omicron. Evergrande defaulted but nobody said so. Don’t covet what others have – decide for yourself what you desire.
Will Germany’s post-Merkel future resemble its recent past? The jury is out. Has the work-life status quo changed for good in the US? Probably. Why the upcoming US summit in defence of democracy runs the risk of backfiring. A flexitarian (mixed/balanced) diet is best for people and planet. Historical high achievers’ winning formular was a mixed and balanced approach to rest and work.
The global transition to clean energy will be geopolitically messy – at best. Perhaps a one-Earth balance sheet could go some way towards tidying things up. How much has social media eroded our social fabric and what does this mean for society in the post pandemic era? Climate relocation is impacting US domestic politics and it doesn’t stop there.
How US NatCon fits into and helps explain worldwide illiberalism. Waiting too long to taper risks resulting in higher and more sustained inflation. Could the vigour of Xi’s current policies stem from confidence rather than urgency? How not to lose the superpower of hope in face of the climate crisis. Acceptance is an essential ingredient to achieve meaningful (and effective) mindfulness.
There is an evolving osmosis between worktime and vacation. Is current inflation transient or not – the debate goes on. Glasgow didn’t achieve enough, activists and shifting attitudes could do more in the near future. Human innovation continues to flourish. Yet we undervalue imagination at our peril.
US-China relations should not be reduced to good or bad, it’s the nuance between the two that could equate to a more stable world order. Fiction can help us make sense of reality; information overload might not be so helpful. Two new weapons: vaccinating the youngest members of society and a therapeutic drug could spell victory over the Covid [...]
The roots of the great resignation run deeper than job fatigue. The inflationary nature (or not) of deglobalization comes under scrutiny. That climate change will provoke mass migration is a given, the right response to it is not. New science is emerging about human energy. More established science now tells us what can help us keep our brains healthy [...]
Why the climate crisis represents the biggest market failure in history. Why failure to effectively confront domestic inequalities could lead to global conflict and uncontrollable climate change. Higher levels of inflation are here to stay and require a concrete response from central banks. What is nature’s true value? Why putting a price on it matters. Why resisting the darker, [...]
The ‘Cornwall Consensus’ heralds the end of a free-market driven agenda and the return of state to the economic arena. Rather than a united effort, the NZE2050 agenda risks pitting rich minority countries against the poor majority ones. What’s on the AI agenda for the next two decades and its consequences (good and less good). Over focus on Covid-19 [...]
Where and how governments must now invest to redeem the failure of past climate policy. The ordinary Chinese citizen turned property investor (apartment purchaser) could be the hardest hit by the Evergrande debacle. An ugly tale of an investment strategy that is wreaking havoc in the newsrooms of the US. The ten tech trends currently attracting most attention and [...]
The ever more pressing need to prioritise financial stability will erode central bank independence. The fall-out from a ‘Hydra of bottlenecks’ is being felt throughout the US. Flaky methodology, still mostly driven by profit not planet, means that ESG funds are often more ‘greenwashed’ than genuinely green and good for society. Lifting the lid on the shady treasure ‘chest’ where [...]
Why humanity is on the move again and the contingent challenges. Why the labour force has frequently missed out on the spoils of economic growth. Why a hybrid formula between remote and in situ (but not necessarily the office) working could be the ideal solution. Why rationality doesn’t matter anymore, and why this matters. Why the ‘liking gap’ can [...]
Why Evergrande’s debt crisis could have global economic consequences. The winners and losers in the future jobs market. Wishful thinking, not hard science, is currently creating inflated optimism about the potential of lab-grown protein to feed the world. Really tackling air pollution will do far more than clean up the air we breathe – the widespread health implications are [...]
Achieving sustainable economic growth is inextricably linked to investing in nature. Future business success tomorrow requires understanding why so many are quitting their jobs today. The tech community’s obsession today with creating an infinite number of tomorrows. In the last decade and half, technology has revolutionized the publishing industry and its not finished yet. Discover the potential ‘returns’ on [...]
