Questions About the Future of the International Economy

Abstract

The problems that stand out are (1) Assuming the center of gravity of the global economic system is moving towards Asia and the emerging market countries more generally, what are the implications for the management of the international economy, and for the future behavior of the international economy? (2) What can/should be done to try to channel this process in a constructive direction? (3) What are the political implications of this shift? (4) What are the factors that could derail this process and what would be the political and economic implications of such a derailing? (5) The futures of China and India are critical to this process. In addition, (6) the information explosion/Google/Facebook/government censorship of their activities in many countries, is a critical and little-studied issue. (7) Demography and demographic trends. It's hard to believe that Russia, Japan, China, Europe are simply going to stand by while their countries and economies become smaller and relatively less significant, as a result of demographic trends. (8) The energy issue, including the potential role of nuclear power and all its geopolitical ramifications, is not going away.