WATER COOLER ‘The World Ahead 2022’ Outlines 10 Trends ToWatchThis Year The 36th annual report by The Economist shows how lasting implications of the pandemic will affect how people live, work and play across the globe in 2022. With the pandemic having caused widespread changes in most areas of life and business, the world is left questioning what’s to come and what the lasting effects of the coronavirus may be. In the latest edition of The World Ahead, formerly The World In, published by The Economist to prepare readers for what to expect in the short term, 10 themes and trends are defined. These include the impending “end” of the pandemic, labor force concerns, cryptocurrency, the rise in tech and the shaky travel industry. Here’s more about them in brief, as outlined by Tom Standage, editor of The World Ahead 2022. 1Democracy versus autocracy. Strong and persisting contrasts between the American and Chinese governments will intensify, proposing questions about which country is better positioned to deliver “stability, growth and innovation.” The impact will be felt everywhere, including tech and trade regulation, vaccinations and even space stations. 2Pandemic to endemic. Improved vaccines, antiviral pills and antibody treatments are headed our way, and the virus will no longer be life-threatening in developed countries. However, developing countries with fewer resources aren’t as equipped, making coronavirus a potential endemic affecting impoverished areas. 3Inflation worries. Disturbances in the supply chain, like the shipping container shortages have caused prices to surge, is something not everyone believes is temporary. Britain is particularly at risk of stagflation due to labor shortages and dependence on expensive natural gas. 4The future of work. There is an understanding that the future of the workforce is and will continue to be a hybridization of in-office and remote work. However, there isn’t a clear-cut idea of what’s fair, appropriate and acceptable, which includes debate over tax procedures and the monitoring of remote workers. 5The new techlash. China is leading the way in tech, and as a result it’s now pressuring tech firms to focus on “deep tech,” which is tech that is not focused on end-user technologies but on finding solutions to scientific or engineering problems. The question here is whether coercing tech companies to stop focusing on services that entail AI, blockchain or robotics will suppress the tech industry’s innovation. 6Crypto grows up. Cryptocurrency is a new technology, but it’s been around long enough now that regulations have been created and are tightening. With banks looking to get in on the action by launching their own digital currencies, there’s a three-way competition between central banks, traditional tech firms and users of decentralized finance (DeFi), cryptocurrency and blockchain technology; something that is anticipated to intensify in 2022. 7Climate crunch. Natural disasters like wildfires and floods are increasing, along with heatwaves, but climate 1 6 3 4 5 2M media / Andrea Izzotti / Denis Belitsky / DimaBerlin / metamorworks / Paopano / Travel mania / Wit Olszewski / Shutterstock.com 60 | JANUARY 2022 | THINK
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