The document discusses the results of interviews with horizon scanners about emerging global trends. Three key points are: 1) Horizon scanners identified automation as the most impactful trend, linking it to a changing workforce, growing wage and education gaps, and increasing economic inequality. 2) Political fragmentation, primarily in Europe, was seen as having mostly negative implications for free trade, technology, and the global economy. 3) Horizon scanners noted social consciousness and corporate responsibility as growing trends as the public demands more accountability from companies.

1. “Over the past year, the refugee crisis
has left the EU countries divided.
However, the combination of
historical, political, social, military
and economic incentives makes the
refugee crisis to be a hard nut to
crack. Tackling this thorny problem
could redefine Europe.”
Global Horizon Scan
Highlights from Global Interviews conducted with
Horizon Scanners to identify emerging trends
impacting corporate leaders in the next 5 years.
HORIZON SCANNERS
IncomeInequality
ResurgentNationalism
Automation
RiseofGlobalMiddleClass
ArtificialIntelligence
SocialUnrest
InternetofThings
ConsumerPower
ResourceScarcity
Aging
Automation’s Impact on
Economic Inequality
Stalled Globalization & Rise
of Nationalism
Keeping Up with
Social Change
FORECASTERS FUTURISTS
BUSINESS
LEADERS ANALYSTS
Horizon Scanners identified automation as the
most impactful emerging global trend. While
automation is linked to technological advances,
it also leads to a changing global workforce,
growing wage and education gaps, and
increasing economic inequality.
Horizon Scanners were quick to identify the
tension between globalism and nationalism.
Political fragmentation, primarily in Europe, will
have mostly negative implications on free trade,
technological advances, and the global economy.
Horizon Scanners identify social
consciousness and corporate
responsibility as growing trends as the
public demands accountability. The rise of
women in leadership, diverse boards, and
an aging population is also top-of-mind.
NATIONALISM IS DIVIDING THE EU
AUTOMATION
POLITICAL FRAGMENTATION
CYBERSECURITY
“The continued automation of work in tandem
with a growing global population and increasing
economic migration, [causes] greater
unemployment.”
“Fragmentation of political responsibility [vis] a
vis of growing global challenges”
“The challenges posed by the IoT - the need to provide more
networked services that seamlessly connect into a user's
increasingly more complex and virtual life, and the corresponding
challenges of cybersecurity.”
Brunswick Insight interviewed 35 Horizon Scanners from Austria, Canada, China, Germany, Italy,
Sweden, UAE, UK, and the US between October 27 - November 14, 2016. Horizon Scanners
included Forecasters, Futurists, Business Leaders and Analysts.
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Top 10
EMERGING GLOBAL TRENDS
KeyHorizonIssues
TOP TRENDS
CEO Horizons European Horizons
Horizon Scanners cited the fragmentation of the EU
affecting Europe’s ability to work with other countries as
the leading forecast of European business.