Trends that will shape the global economy in 2012

Thursday, December 01, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Brazil, China , Russia, Korea, India, South Africa, Thought leadership | Tags: business, economy, global, report, growth, survey, international, emerging markets, IBR, insight, inflation, International business report, trends, global economy, recovery, 2012, Ed Nusbaum

What will 2012 bring for both mature and emerging markets? Read on for our major new report surveying demand, employment, investment, inflation and access to finance across 40 economies. It’s a must-read for any business looking to navigate international opportunities at this difficult time.

Ed Nusbaum, the CEO of Grant Thornton International, gives an overview of the issues facing the global economy and introduces the latest International Business Report:

“We have witnessed a large amount of political and economic turmoil over the past 12 months, from uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa to the tsunami in Japan and the sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone. Resulting volatility in commodity prices, disruptions to supply chains and general uncertainty has impacted businesses across the globe, slowing the recovery in both mature and emerging markets.

“The International Business Report (IBR) became a quarterly survey in 2011, allowing us greater flexibility in analysing and understanding the impact of key events on business growth. This new approach allows us to deliver not only the economic perspective of business leaders on events such as the Arab Spring, renewable energy and global lease accounting changes, but also deep insight into strategic issues such as the proportion of women in senior management and corporate social responsibility activities. Drawing on more than 13,000 interviews in 40 economies, this report explores the trends that will shape the speed and trajectory of the recovery over the next 12 months, including demand, employment, investment, inflation and access to finance.

“As the IBR enters its 20th year, the global economic outlook is uncertain and social unrest is growing. In mature markets, debt crises and the impact of ageing populations remain unresolved whilst emerging markets are grappling with persistent inflation and a shortage of skilled workers. As technology advances, competition increases and the balance of economic power flows to high-growth markets such as Brazil, China and India, the global economy is undoubtedly entering a new phase.

“Despite this apparent adversity, many of our clients are thriving. By remaining agile and adaptable to change, these dynamic organisations are able to capitalise on opportunities quickly. In a turbulent world, they look set to reap the richest rewards.”

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The full IBR survey is available here: The global economy in 2012: a rocky road to recovery.

You might also find these posts useful:

* Insights on the changing world order from the High-Growth Markets Summit 2011
* Subscribe to India Watch – our UK/India business bulletin in association with LSE
* Read more posts on China and related stories