Malissa Adams
- Oct 20, 2013
- 3 min read

Global Trends

By Melissa Adams Oct 20, 2013

•Why Forecast the Future of Diversity

It provides the opportunity to…

•Develop a visionary mindset
•Make better, more informed decisions in the present
•Strategically prepare for change before crises hits
•Take a global perspective while remaining focused on solving local issues

Four Forces of Change: a framework for thinking about possible futures and their implications.

Demographics

What can we Do Now to prepare Generation Z for 2030, when a majority of them will be 30 years old.

Technology

Will technological breakthroughs be developed in time to boost economic productivity?

Governance

Will governments and institutions be able to adapt fast enough to harness change instead of being overwhelmed by it?

Resources

Will breakthroughs be developed in time to be prepared for Global Poverty

With about 1.2 billion people globally living in extreme poverty, (earning less than $1.25[1] a day) some people don’t have access to basic human services. Simply providing proper health care access, can have lasting effects on both physical and mental development. These effects can, in turn, impact a countries future, productivity, earnings, and overall economic well-being. Providing foreign Aid is just one of the ways the US is helping to decrease poverty abroad.

It can be challenging to think about global poverty when the US and Europe continue to struggle through a persistent economic downturn that seems to be increasing the divide between the rich and the poor. Decreasing poverty is not a one step process; a growing body of research indicates that growth and decreasing poverty rates in regions such as East Asia are coinciding with rising inequality (web.worldbank.org).

Large income disparities can divide a country, and cause social instability; we see evidence of this with the Greece Riots of 2010-12. Inequality can lead to social tensions which can lead to a number of scenarios that impact the international community and America. What does the international community expect of the US when it comes to helping to manage international crises?

Is America’s position in the world determined by how successful America is at eradicating global poverty? Maybe not, but the US has a history of supplying aid to people in struggling developing countries. America does this through a mixture of compassion and support coupled with U.S. foreign policy through the United States Agency for International Development or USAID.

USAID plays a huge part in America’s effort to stabilize under-developed countries and build local government or political systems. They also try to ease the civilians through transition after a crisis is over. USAID comes from “American citizens” and it’s for the poorest and most vulnerable around the world. According to the website USAID.gov “as beneficiaries of peace and prosperity, Americans have a responsibility to assist those less fortunate so we see the day when our assistance is no longer necessary”. (USAID.gov)

Some may argue that it is not Americas “responsibility” to provide assistance. However, others would argue although emerging global powers are eager to take their place at the top they are more interested in continuing their own economic development than acting as Global Police. A collapse or sudden retreat of USAID could result in an increase in global poverty. After an extended period this can lead to global rebellion.

The good news is that the global poverty rate has gone down from 43.1% in 1990 to 20.6% in 2010. According to the National intelligence Council’s report Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds that number could drop by about 50% between 2010 and 2030 (dni.gov). To learn more about USAID and what you can do to get involved visit http://www.usaid.gov.

Shifts: Critical changes to key features of our global environment that will affect how the world “works”

Growth of the Global Middle Class
Wider Access to Lethal and Disruptive Technologies
Unprecedented and Widespread Aging
Urbanization
Food and Water Pressures
US Energy Independence

Think & Plan

We encourage you as leaders and decision makers—whether in government or outside—to think and plan for the long term so that negative futures do not occur and positive ones have a better chance of unfolding.