Global Scans · Organizations · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEW?: Moves away from traditional, hierarchical, full-time structures towards a gig and shared economy continue apace. New models of virtual working and work anywhere, anytime for anybody are likely to grow dramatically in the coming years.

• [New] Global heating will inflict economic losses on the global economy of $38 trillion a year by 2049 as extreme weather ravages agricultural yields, harms labour productivity, and destroys infrastructure. CleanTechnica
• [New] The ability to perform complex surgical manipulations from remote locations will eliminate geographical constraints and make surgical expertise available throughout the world, improving patient treatment and surgical training. Nature
• [New] In the euro area and other advanced economies in Europe, activity and core inflation have fallen faster than anticipated, but labor markets remain tight and negotiated wage growth is still vigorous. IMF eLibrary
• [New] The global negative implications become more visible in 2025, as tighter financial conditions increasingly affect activity in advanced economies (outside of the United States) and emerging markets. IMF eLibrary
• [New] Inflation in advanced economies and emerging markets excluding China is 20 basis points lower, on average, during the 2024-26 period for both headline and core measures. IMF eLibrary
• [New] Advanced economies with debt levels above 100% of GDP experience increases in both term and sovereign premiums that peak at 100 basis points by 2026, while emerging markets experience increases in both premiums that peak at 150 basis points, also by 2026. IMF eLibrary
• [New] The share of low-income countries and emerging markets in or at high risk of debt distress in 2024 remains elevated. IMF eLibrary
• [New] The price of energy fell faster than expected from its peak, in part as a result of increased non-OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil production and increased natural gas output, most notably in the United States. IMF eLibrary
• [New] The disruption of global supply chains resulted in a decrease in the demand for products related to electronic-grade polysilicon. Virtue Market Research
• Apple's embrace of used parts in its repair process will have ripple effects across the technology sector, influencing other companies to reconsider their approach to product repairability and sustainability. Times of Oman
• With global economies showing signs of normalising and optimism over Fed interest rate cuts in 2024, analysts expect companies across key markets to spend more on technology that will drive higher growth forecasts by Indian software services firms. The Straits Times
• 51% of employees surveyed in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa region said they could tell a deepfake from a real image. Islamabad Post
• The Government of Canada has a significant opportunity to lead by example by making its operations low-carbon and strengthening the resilience of its assets, operations and services. Transport Canada
• Rather than being limited to 'micro-businesses' with fewer than 10 employees, the free Ombudsman scheme will be extended to encompass small organizations with fewer than 50 employees - thereby covering 99% of all businesses in Great Britain. Legal Futures
• Comic Relief Launches New Youth Homelessness in the UK Fund Comic Relief has announced that it expects to launch a new funding opportunity in April for organizations that specialise in providing support to young people aged 16-25 in the UK, who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. LDCVS - Lancaster District Community & Voluntary Soluti
• The UK will continue to work closely with international governments, AI AI companies and civil society, to ensure people across the globe can safely realise the transformative benefits of AI AI to unlock new opportunities, transform productivity and public services, and power economic growth. GOV.UK
• With Google's enterprise AI platform, Vertex AI, and its Gemini models, PwC will help customers set new benchmarks for digital transformation and improve their businesses for growth and efficiency. Google Cloud Press Corner
• PwC will apply Google Cloud's gen AI technology to its own business practices to improve complex and time-consuming processes, specifically in the legal and tax domains. Google Cloud Press Corner
• Over 850 organizations were signatories of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism committing to accelerate climate action, to halve emissions by 2030 and reach Net Zero as soon as possible before 2050. ETHospitalityWorld.com
• Fragrance sales have been on the rise in recent years, and a report from McKinsey & Company projects that consumers will continue to spend in the fragrance category, trading up for more luxury products in the coming years. Insider
• The Role of Data Analytics in Supply Chain Resilience: In an era of global disruptions, supply chain resilience has become a top priority for organizations. Analytics Insight
• Fixed broadband service revenue will grow at a five-year CAGR of 1.2% over 2023-2028, driven by steady growth in fiber optic access lines, on the back of fiber rollouts by operators and government. Research and Markets

Last updated: 22 April 2024