Zanny Minton Beddoes in conversation with Ann Bernstein

Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist, was in conversation with CDE executive director, Ann Bernstein, about the rapidly changing world and what the future holds. Her view is that this is a pivotal moment in history where many things are shifting at the same time: geopolitical, technological and economic. The scale of change is both alarming and exhilarating but individuals can make a big difference in shaping the future. Minton Beddoes believes that the AI technological revolution will lead us to a different world within ten years, but the impact on jobs may not be as severe as some have suggested. She believes the technology should be regulated, irrespective of concerns about the impact on US competitiveness. She explained The Economist’s more optimistic view of the US, compared to many other commentators, saying that if the worst excesses of the Trump administration can be tempered, the ‘entrepreneurial innovation machine’ could be reset. Europe’s economic fortunes can be reversed with a bold approach to reform – specifically deregulation and addressing the unsustainable welfare economy. The UK could embrace the prospect of greater economic dynamism seen under Thatcher and Blair. China’s domestic economy remains stagnant, and the government has been unwilling to take the necessary steps to change this such as reflating the economy, boosting consumption and cleaning up after the property bust. Other topics covered were the limitations to the militaristic approach adopted by several South American countries to crime, the current state of mainstream media and the inadequate attention to the dire state of women’s rights and economic participation in many parts of the world.

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