The Global Economy: Lenses on the Past, Present, and Future

• Activity Number: 356
• Type: Roundtables
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 : 12:30 PM to 1:50 PM
• Sponsor: Business and Economic Statistics Section
• Author(s): Bart van Ark*+
• Companies: The Conference Board
• Keywords: economic outlook ; global economy ; economic growth ; productivity ; investment ; employment

Abstract

Six years since the start of the global economic and financial crisis, the world economy has arrived at a tipping point that may determine the growth performance for the next two decades. Mature economies are still finding their way in recovering, large emerging markets are adjusting to the end of the bonanza of massive capital inflows, and others are seeking entry into the global economy. In this outlook address, The Conference Board's executive vice president and chief economist, Bart van Ark, discusses the global economy through three lenses: a historical review of how we arrived at where we are since the mid-1990s, the short-term growth prospects for 2014 and 2015, and the medium-term perspective for the next 10 years. He also will discuss the upside opportunities and downside risks using macro growth scenarios in which the key drivers of growth (employment, investment, and technology) are being varied.

Dr. van Ark has been extensively published in national and international economic journals and is widely recognized for his contributions to productivity analysis and international comparisons.