The Aspen Dialogue on World Economy – The New Geopolitics of the Global Economy

The yearly conference offers an important moment to reflect on the prevailing trends of the world economy in the medium and long term. The 2007 edition examined the question of the weaker dollar as a way of analyzing prospects for the euro and global financial relations. Discussion revolved around the weakened US currency and whether it will remain the pivot of the international monetary system. At the same time, participants looked at the strength of the euro and its rapid growth as a world reserve currency. Special attention was also paid to the energy question, both from the point of view of security issues and in relation to business prospects that have arisen with greater use of clean energy. In terms of energy supply security, there was an important discussion on the possible creation of a sort of OPEC for methane gas and the fact that many countries are once again opting for nuclear energy for civilian use. There was also a great deal of interest in the geopolitical and economic analysis of two emerging powers – China and India – in their models of investment’s influence on Western markets, and in competitive standards that must be based on valid rules for everyone. It was agreed that this will help create the framework for more loyal competition, a policy of industrial acquisition abroad and the possible creation of a sort of transpacific axis with the US, China and India.