Insights

China seeks to shift from a manufacturing-based economy to one driven by domestic consumption, competing against the US, where consumer spending constitutes nearly 70% of GDP. While the US emphasizes production alongside spending, China struggles with a high savings rate due to a limited social safety net. This economic divergence raises questions about the optimal level of consumption for sustainable growth. China's recent challenges include sluggish consumer demand post-COVID, while the US continues its reindustrialization efforts, facing difficulties in revitalizing domestic production.
How much consumption is (just) enough for an economy?
AI is transforming customer engagement, necessitating brands to move beyond traditional methods and deliver hyper-personalized experiences. A study shows that 82% of sales and marketing leaders anticipate significant business transformations due to generative AI. By 2028, about one-third of organizations aim to implement AI for enhancing personalization and marketing strategies. AI is expected to automate over two-thirds of customer interactions, streamline B2B sales through conversational interfaces, and revolutionize customer support via chatbots. However, challenges such as data privacy, integration issues, and ethical concerns must be addressed for successful adoption. Organizations must prioritize comprehensive AI strategies to remain competitive.
The AI Sales & Marketing Revolution: a guide towards 2028
Fintech firms have rapidly evolved and become integral to the global financial system in the last two decades, especially accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As industry growth begins to stabilize, monitoring key trends is crucial for responsible development. The second edition of the Future of Global Fintech report, in collaboration with the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, provides updated insights on market performance, regulatory perceptions, technological innovations, and financial inclusion. This research is based on a global survey of 240 selected fintech companies across six industry verticals and regions, aiming to support informed decision-making within the fintech ecosystem.
Education, Health, Financial services, ICT
The Future of Global Fintech: From Rapid Expansion to Sustainable Growth – Second Edition
Fintech firms have rapidly established themselves alongside traditional financial institutions over the last two decades. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this growth, which has since normalized, making it crucial to monitor key trends for sustainable development. The second edition of the Future of Global Fintech report, created with the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, presents current data on market performance, regulatory perceptions, technological innovations, and financial inclusion. This report is based on a global survey of 240 selected fintech companies across six industry verticals and regions, aiding evidence-based decisions for stakeholders in the fintech ecosystem.
Education, Health, Financial services, ICT
The Future of Global Fintech: From Rapid Expansion to Sustainable Growth – Second Edition
Australia has launched the world's first sustainable investment rulebook that defines eligible mining activities for green financing. Developed after two years of consultations, the taxonomy will be piloted by major banks and pension funds. It focuses on four key metals—copper, lithium, nickel, and iron ore—essential for the transition from fossil fuels. Mining operations can qualify as "green" by meeting specific emissions intensity thresholds, while captive coal-powered sites are excluded from sustainable financing. This initiative is attracting interest from other mining nations and aims to position Australia as a leader in global sustainable finance.
Australia | Financial services
Australia launches world’s first sustainable finance rulebook that includes mining
China's Green Electricity Certificate (GEC) prices surged significantly from CNY 1 in February to an average of CNY 2.31 by April due to new policies by the Guangdong province linking GEC purchases to local officials' performance evaluations. Additionally, a central government directive indicated that energy-intensive sectors must now acquire GECs to demonstrate their renewable energy use, pushing demand higher. Initially voluntary, GECs became essential as of 2023 for verifying green electricity consumption, leading to a market shift from low prices and low trading volumes to increased trading activity and rising prices. However, regional price disparities and oversupply challenges persist.
As prices surge, what next for China’s green power certificates?
AI scraping bots are increasingly impacting cultural heritage institutions, according to a report by the GLAM-E Lab. Surveying 43 organizations across Europe, North America, and Oceania, 39 reported a rise in online traffic, with 27 attributing it to AI training bots. Many respondents likened the bots’ overwhelming behavior to Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, which can incapacitate servers. This surge in traffic complicates resource management and poses significant challenges for library and archive administrators.
AI Scraping Bots Are Breaking Open Libraries, Archives, and Museums
Gender disparities in Lao PDR significantly affect population demographics, education, and labor markets. The population, projected to grow from 6.67 million to 9.4 million by 2045, shows a nearly equal gender distribution, but educational inequities persist. Males generally have higher literacy rates, and more boys are enrolled in upper secondary schools. Women face high unemployment rates and are predominantly engaged in informal employment, with a notable gender pay gap. Over 58% of women are outside the labor force primarily due to family care responsibilities. Addressing these disparities is crucial for sustainable development and economic growth in the region.
Bangladesh | Education, Health
Addressing Gender Disparities for Inclusive and Equitable Development in Lao PDR
Artificial intelligence is transforming journalism by optimizing processes but also raising ethical dilemmas. While AI can effectively handle tasks such as automated news generation and data analysis, its inability to perform critical analysis and make ethical decisions limits its role as a complete substitute for journalists. Instead, AI should be regarded as a complementary tool that enhances journalistic creativity and analytical depth. The study emphasizes the necessity for collaboration between technology and journalists, including regulation and training, to leverage AI ethically and effectively while maintaining the profession's core values.
Education, ICT
Can artificial intelligence replace journalists? A theoretical approach
Sri Lanka's social protection programs are undergoing reform following the 2022 economic crisis, which drastically increased poverty rates to 25%. The government introduced the Aswesuma program to replace the inadequate Samurdhi program, utilizing a multidimensional approach to target aid to the most vulnerable households. However, concerns arise regarding eligibility criteria, data verification challenges, and insufficient follow-up monitoring. Improvements are needed to better identify both chronic and transient poverty, ensure more accurate data collection, and consider regional and climate-related vulnerabilities, enhancing the effectiveness of cash transfers to support long-term poverty alleviation.
Bangladesh, Honduras, Malawi, Nepal, Sri Lanka
Reaching the Right Households: Reforming Social Aid in Sri Lanka
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) by social media platforms significantly influences political polarization among voters and parties. Two main mechanisms are identified: AI-driven recommendations create echo chambers that enhance users' biases, leading to increased voter polarization, which in turn prompts parties to adopt more extreme positions. Additionally, competition between parties leads platforms to favor targeted digital ads for revenue, further polarizing the electorate. This polarization is less pronounced when one party dominates, as platforms shift towards subscription-based models. The paper also explores the potential regulatory impact on these polarizing effects.
AI and Social Media: A Political Economy Perspective
Freshwater systems are under severe strain from climate change, pollution, and over-extraction, with water demand expected to exceed supply by 40% in five years. Agriculture, which uses 70% of freshwater withdrawals, faces significant challenges as food production needs to increase by 60% by mid-century. This report highlights the critical need for innovation in the food-water nexus, showcasing examples like China’s efficient use of limited resources and the Middle East’s advances in desalination. It proposes 12 impactful innovations across technology and business models and emphasizes the necessity of collaborative public-private efforts to transform food and water systems.
Health
From Scarcity to Solutions: Food-Water Innovation in Asia and the Middle East
Freshwater systems are under severe pressure from climate change, pollution, and over-extraction, with demand expected to surpass supply by 40% in five years. Agriculture, consuming 70% of freshwater withdrawals, faces significant risks as food production must rise by 60% by mid-century. Innovation is essential, demonstrated by China’s ability to support 20% of the global population with limited freshwater and arable land, and the Middle East’s 40% share of global desalination. The report outlines 12 high-impact innovations needed in agriculture, water, and cross-sector technologies, emphasizing the necessity of collaborative public-private strategies for effective transformation.
Bangladesh | Financial services, Education, Health
From Scarcity to Solutions: Food-Water Innovation in Asia and the Middle East
Cities are increasingly leveraging data to enhance public action, driven by the growth of big data and artificial intelligence. However, a clear conceptual and operational framework for utilizing this data effectively is essential. This paper outlines a framework that assists cities in addressing issues more efficiently, equitably, and transparently. It synthesizes existing research with empirical evidence from studies aimed at improving city governments' data capabilities. The framework supports analyses of different data uses across maturity levels, aiding practitioners in prioritizing areas to bolster data capacity to meet organizational goals.
The Data-Informed City: A Conceptual Framework for Advancing Research and Practice
Private equity firms are currently cautious due to uncertainty surrounding tariffs, affecting their investment strategies. Many firms are slowing down transactions as they seek clarity on trade policies, which impacts earnings visibility and valuation assessments. However, some general partners remain optimistic, viewing current volatility as an opportunity to invest in undervalued companies. Firms are proactively modeling potential risks and adjusting strategies. Portfolio companies face pressure to stabilize earnings amid rising import costs, considering supply chain relocations as a long-term solution, despite the associated challenges and costs.
How Private Equity Firms Are Coping With Tariffs
Dementia affects over 57 million people globally, with projections estimating 139 million by 2050. A recent study suggested a decline in dementia risk across generations, analyzing data from over 62,000 individuals aged 70 and older. The findings indicated that individuals born between 1944-48 had the lowest risk, with dementia cases decreasing from 25% among those born between 1890-1912 to 15% for the more recent cohort. However, these findings, while based on high-income countries, may not represent global trends due to diagnostic disparities in lower-income regions and the study's reliance on predictive models without distinguishing dementia subtypes.
Dementia: are younger generations really less likely to develop the disorder, as a recent study has claimed?
The UK, highly vulnerable to trade disruptions due to reliance on global supply chains, is introducing an industrial strategy focused on "securonomics," championed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. This strategy emphasizes domestic energy investment, supply chain security, and reducing dependence on single supplier nations like China. Initiatives include a £600 million investment in logistics, a national supply chain center, and measures to encourage reshoring of manufacturing. Additionally, strengthening the defence supply chain and enhancing cybersecurity in logistics are prioritized. Overall, while the strategy aims to bolster resilience, its effectiveness amidst fiscal constraints remains uncertain.
Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom | Financial services, Education, ICT
New industrial strategy brings Rachel Reeves’ securonomics to life – but will it protect Britain from more supply chain shocks?
The UK government’s new industrial strategy intends to reduce energy bills for large manufacturers by up to 25% over four years, funded by a £2 billion investment. Around 7,000 energy-intensive businesses will be exempt from green levies, aimed at enhancing their competitiveness against foreign firms. Despite these measures, smaller businesses face escalating energy costs, with prices rising over 75% since 2021, contributing to increased company insolvencies. Current support for SMEs remains inadequate, leaving them vulnerable and without effective plans for energy efficiency or renewable energy adoption.
United Kingdom
UK plan to cut energy bills for industrial firms threatens to leave small businesses out in the cold
The AI efficiency trap is a cycle where the adoption of AI in the workplace, initially aimed at increasing productivity, leads to diminished worker autonomy and dependence on technology. It progresses through four stages: initial productivity gains, managerial recalibration, dependency acceleration, and performance expectation lock-in. In this cycle, as employees increasingly rely on AI, their skills deteriorate, confidence wanes, and they become psychologically dependent on AI for task completion. This erosion of personal agency creates a feedback loop of dependency, resulting in vulnerability for organizations reliant on AI systems.
The AI Efficiency Trap: When Productivity Tools Create Perpetual Pressure
Day 2 of ‘Summer Davos’ 2025 in Tianjin focuses on Asia's economic growth and the energy transition. Key themes include climate finance, with discussions led by regional leaders such as Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Prime Ministers from Senegal, Singapore, and Vietnam. The importance of viewing clean energy as a long-term growth driver is emphasized, alongside discussions about AI's impact on workforces and the need for global cooperation in addressing challenges like funding gaps in emerging economies.
Financial services, Education, ICT
Day 2 at ‘Summer Davos’ 2025: Asia’s growth and future of energy in the spotlight

Forum Spaces

© 2026 All rights reserved
Privacy Policy & Terms of Service