MANKIND AT THE TURNING POINT: SCENARIOS FOR THE WORLD’S ECONOMIC FUTURE AMID GEOPOLITICS AND TECHNOLOGY

Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Serbia

Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Serbia

Center for Economic Science Development, Belgrade, Serbia
Serbia


Abstract

The future of the global economy is largely shaped by geopolitical and technological circumstances. The geopolitical context refers to the stability, predictability, and rules-based nature of the global order, while the technological landscape encompasses the speed and scope of adopting new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and autonomous systems that combine sensors, AI, and automation to perform tasks without direct human intervention. This paper explores possible scenarios for the world’s economic future in light of anticipated geopolitical and technological changes. The aim of the research is to examine alternative global economic trajectories for the future, with focus on the scenarios developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which have the potential to reshape various economic sectors and transform the operations of individual enterprises. To achieve this, the paper employs both analysis and comparison methods applied to selected global economic development scenarios as its primary methodological approach. The main hypothesis is that a systematic understanding of expected global economic trends significantly reduces strategic uncertainty and enables timely adaptation of economic actors by identifying specific risks and opportunities within different scenarios. The analysis evaluates future global economic performance and identifies strategic guidelines necessary to address the anticipated changes.

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