Agenda

The stories shaping the Global, Regional and Industry agendas

Global Agenda

Forget GDP – for the 21st century we need a modern growth measure

A wealth measure that ignores natural capital, social cohesion and human wellbeing is worthless. Luckily, a new Canadian project has hit on an alternative.

Pushpam Kumar 13 Nov 2018

Global Risks

These are the top risks for doing business around the world

Concern about cyber-attacks is growing but unemployment and underemployment represent the biggest risk worldwide, according to a new World Economic Forum report.

Aengus Collins 12 Nov 2018

Entrepreneurship

How can we make entrepreneurship serve the greater good?

We think of entrepreneurs as people who act opportunistically to secure vast personal wealth. But what if there were a new, more socially responsible model for the 21st century?

Irene Arias, Jens Martin Skibsted, Lien De Cuyper, and Julie Ziskind 11 Nov 2018

Banking and Capital Markets

Why Sweden's cashless society is no longer a utopia

Switching fully to card and app payments would put access to our money in the hands of private organizations for the first time in history.

Cecilia Skingsley 10 Nov 2018

Future of Energy

Superconductors: the miracle materials powering an energy revolution

Imagine if electricity could form into a quantum wave and flow without losing any energy at all.

Suchitra Sebastian 10 Nov 2018

Neuroscience

We need to rethink neuroscience. And you can help us

How can we ensure science works in the service of need, not greed? To arrive at a set of ethical guidelines, first we need to know what the public wants.

Karen Rommelfanger and Alvaro Fernandez 10 Nov 2018

Media, Entertainment and Information

Globalization 4.0, designer babies and other top stories of the week

Also in our round-up of stories you may have missed from the past seven days: underrated humans, National Jealousy Day and the rise of corpse hotels.

Adrian Monck 09 Nov 2018

Oceans

Your home could be lit by jellyfish in the future

Inspired by glowing jellyfish, young Spanish scientist Rubén Costa has developed BioLEDs that could help save the planet – as well as sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Kate Whiting 09 Nov 2018

Environment and Natural Resource Security

These life-saving drugs are made from deadly venom

Scientists are using deadly animal toxins to treat a variety of health problems, from heart disease to diabetes.

Alex Gray 09 Nov 2018

Regional Agenda

Digital Economy and Society

This mobile laundry gives homeless people free showers and washes their clothes

Providing a basic service to a community in need has delivered some interesting spin-off benefits and is attracting international attention.

Sean Fleming 09 Nov 2018

United States

The future of energy in Puerto Rico is renewable

Puerto Rico should break, once and for all, its needless dependence on fossil fuels. Here's how it can do it.

Yamil Colón 08 Nov 2018

United States

US midterm elections: what you need to know

As one of the most divisive political contests in modern US history gets underway, we look at what's at stake and how much we can tell from early voting.

Liz Rebecca Alarcón 06 Nov 2018

Future of Energy

How energy infrastructure is shaping geopolitics in East Asia

Strategic balance is the new normal in Asia's cross-border energy infrastructure, writes Miyeon Oh, as countries attempt to avoid direct conflict in an era of great competition for power.

Miyeon Oh 02 Nov 2018

Justice and Legal Infrastructure

What we can learn from Asia’s courts of the future

Courts in the Fourth Industrial Revolution will involve virtual supply chains, blockchain-encoded smart contracts, AI-enabled judges and lawyers, and digital currency-based fines and paym...

Viva Dadwal and Mark Beer 02 Nov 2018

Cities and Urbanization

What Melbourne teaches us about fast-growing cities and procrastination

In 35 years, Melbourne has transformed from a dying city into one of the world’s most vibrant urban centres. But it faces challenges in adapting to its rapid growth.

Rob Adams 31 Oct 2018

Agriculture, Food and Beverage

How smart farming is helping Brazil feed the world

'Integrated' farming combines pastures, forests and fields in the same area. It brings overgrazed land back to life, and it's more efficient, more resilient and more sustainable.

Daniel Kluppel Carrara, Ligia Dutra, and Bruno Lucchi 25 Oct 2018

Drones

Africa is helping the drone industry get off the ground. Here’s how

Some of the world’s poorest countries have embraced drone technology, and are giving the industry a boost by stimulating innovation.

Seth Berkley 19 Oct 2018

Africa

Who are the winners and losers in Africa’s Continental Free Trade area?

It's the largest free trade agreement in history. Here's what the AfCFTA must do to ensure it helps small businesses, which employ 80% of Africans, to thrive.

Rilwan Akeyewale 17 Oct 2018

Industry Agenda

Workforce and Employment

Why social working cultures are happier and more productive

A new global survey finds that communal activities and 'workations' contribute to a healthier work environment.

Dan Schawbel 13 Nov 2018

Workforce and Employment

Here are three key ways that data analytics can improve the workplace

Employees expect more from work than companies are currently able to deliver. But used in the right way, data analytics can help organizations fulfil these expectations and stay competitive.

Bhushan Sethi 13 Nov 2018

Oceans

How to end overfishing in the global South

Fishermen, NGOs and governments have made great progress in the global North. Now it's time to cooperate and implement sustainability in the South, too.

Rupert Howes 09 Nov 2018

Workforce and Employment

Inclusion and diversity isn't just good for employees – it's good for the bottom line

More needs to be done to reap the benefits of the changing workforce in Asia Pacific. How do we get there?

Smilla Yuan and Chad O’Reilly 09 Nov 2018

Banking and Capital Markets

How banking with blockchain can stamp out corruption and increase financial inclusion

It can save public and financial institutions billions, while introducing greater accountability, policing corruption and enabling more people to access money.

Joseph Thompson 08 Nov 2018

Infrastructure

How sustainable infrastructure can help us fight climate change

Without a global transformation, the world will warm by 1.5°C in a little over a decade. To prevent this, we need to shift to low-carbon, high-resilience infrastructure.

Amal-Lee Amin and Graham Watkins 07 Nov 2018

Cybersecurity

How to stop data leaks

To rebuild trust in technology platforms, companies and government representatives should prioritize security and agree clear guidelines on how data is shared.

Algirde Pipikaite 07 Nov 2018

Future of Energy

Is the energy industry meeting its sustainability goals?

Sometimes, the energy transition can seem unwieldy. But by measuring energy systems for economies around the world, we can not only help grow economies, but also transform societies.

Francois Austin 05 Nov 2018

Future of Economic Progress

What is inclusive capitalism, and why does it matter?

As businesses and governments adjust to the new realities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the idea that the ultimate value of business success is the extent to which it enriches shar...

Miguel Milano 05 Nov 2018