Megatrend

This article is about a statistical trend on a global scale. For the university of the same name, see Megatrend University.

Megatrends are trends that have an effect on a global scale. Some of the current megatrends are identical with global threats.<ref name="DW.COM">"Five of the world's biggest environmental problems - 11.10.2016". DW.COM. Retrieved July 27, 2020.</ref><ref name=dni>"AlternAtive Worlds" (PDF). Office of the Director of National Intelligence.</ref>

Economic implications

Economically, megatrends can be exploited by enterprises to make profit. At least 7 megatrends have been identified by multinational investment and professional services companies:<ref name="BlackRock 2019">"Invest in the future with megatrends - BlackRock". BlackRock. December 31, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2020.</ref><ref name="PricewaterhouseCoopers 2016">PricewaterhouseCoopers (November 22, 2016). "Five Megatrends And Their Implications for Global Defense & Security". PwC. Retrieved July 27, 2020. pdf</ref><ref name="Ernst & Young 2020">Ernst & Young (June 19, 2020). "Are you reframing your future or is the future reframing you?". EY. Retrieved August 23, 2020. pdf</ref>

• Technological progress, esp. in the internet domain<ref name="IHS Markit Online Newsroom 2017">"Number of Connected IoT Devices Will Surge to 125 Billion by 2030, IHS Markit Says". IHS Markit Online Newsroom. October 24, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2020.</ref>
• Demographic change and social change<ref name="United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2017">"World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision - Multimedia Library". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. June 21, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2020.</ref>
• Rapid global urbanization<ref name="Population Division 2018">"World Urbanization Prospects - United Nations". Population Division. May 16, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2020.</ref>
• Climate change and resource depletion<ref name=bloomberg2017>"New Energy Outlook" (PDF). Bloomberg. 2017.</ref>
• Emerging markets<ref>"The Long View How will the global economic order change by 2050" (PDF). PWC. 2017.</ref>
• The impact of deepfakes and other synthetic media<ref name="Ernst & Young 2020"/>
• Microbiomes and synthetic biology<ref name="Ernst & Young 2020"/>