Recently, A.T. Kearney’s internal think tank, the Global Business Policy Council (GBPC) released its 2020 predictions, identifying what it believes to be the 10 most significant global trends that will gain momentum in the coming year. Year-Ahead Predictions 2020 develops its forecasts based on the Council’s continuous scanning of the horizon across key dimensions of demography, economy, environment, geopolitics, governance, resources, and technology. The report also marks its own score on its predictions for 2019.
Among the trends predicted for next year, climate crises will trigger public- and private-sector collaboration on practical new solutions, the U.S. will be taking on challengers in the 5G race, and competition will heat up not only in the technology space but in outer space. Several shifting political and economic fault lines will also be active in 2020, including geopolitical tensions in Northeast Asia and a growing generational divide.
Here is the full list of the GBPC’s 10 predictions for 2020:
- Generational wars will heat up as battle lines are drawn.
- A wave of water crises will spur innovation.
- The evolution of cities will accelerate to meet infrastructure and climate challenges.
- A new disaster economy will emerge as catastrophes become more frequent and severe.
- The Halal consumer market (foods that Muslims are allowed to eat) will exceed $2.5 trillion globally.
- The United States will encounter challenges in the race to 5G.
- Data privacy rules will proliferate as EU regulations set the global standard.
- Northeast Asia will become an even more profound geopolitical hotspot.
- S. dollar appreciation will continue.
- Commercial and national interests will collide in a more crowded outer space.
