Crisis Demands

This Crisis changed the world. For sure?

The crisis catalysed thinking from years to months – even weeks. In this fast paced environment, drafting possible scenarios and thinking of how to react to them is essential. Disastrous consequences caused by an unstable financial system have been highlighted. Furthermore, the enormous interdependencies of our globally linked world have been shown. The setbacks in growth caused by this crisis had disastrous consequences for corporations and whole states as well as individuals. As response to that, economists, politicians and entrepreneurs try their best in order to revitalize economic growth. Cushioning the crisis’ impacts forced a dramatic increase of national debts. But, what happens with the augment of public debts all over the world? Are we navigating straight into a new heavy crisis, a crisis of states?

In fact, is there unlimited growth in a world with limited resources? Has the western world slowly reached its´ borders of growth? The crisis was not the starting point of the power shift to Asia, but it clearly revealed that the growth markets of tomorrow will be in emerging countries. Consequently, for which possible increasing scenarios in the world and regional must countries and the economy be prepared?

A central challenge of our time is the stabilization of the financial and economic systems and of worldwide growth rates while trying to simultaneously reduce carbon emissions. Are we heading towards a more stable and sustainable world with our actions? Or do we underrate the crisis’ impact by regarding it as a non-recurring phenomenon without any need for structural change?

Entrepreneurs and politicians are confronted by a trade-off between thriving for short-term profits and the indispensable need for sustainability. To be honest, everyone is talking about sustainability and its necessity. The discussion has been lead so many times that the expression itself has nearly gotten meaningless. The path towards true sustainability seems to be too hard to reach. Are executives disposed to change something or is it impossible to make money with sustainability? Is economic activity in the end bound to be focused on short term results or do we jeopardize the future with our greed for asset-maximization?