Proceedings at this panel debate kicked off with the observation that a redistribution of roles and power between women and men is underway – a process which the election of Hillary Clinton as president of the United States could have served to cement. The proclamation of Donald Trump’s victory – which for many came as unexpected – has instead upset the apple cart.
Africa is changing. Some countries are growing and forging ahead, while others are moving more slowly. The whole continent has major potential, and yet it often remains unfulfilled. The most important thing in the midst of this change is to envisage a sustainable scenario. Updated legal systems are crucial to any future progress: without regulations, it is more difficult to attract private investments. Innovation must also be an ingredient of this progress and the way business is done needs to be tweaked. This applies particularly to the strategic energy industry.
It is already possible to live to the age of 120, and in the future this will remain true. The new scenario – ushered in by major scientific advances and by the growing progress in personalized medicine – is also going to introduce the problems of preserving the quality of such a long life and ensuring that the economic and social system is capable of sustaining it.
Low oil prices, a steep rise in investments in renewables, the Paris climate accord and significant emissions reductions: the world energy scenario, particularly in the Mediterranean region, is entering a new era. The permanent volatility of oil prices will not have a different or less decisive future impact on economic and business scenarios. At the same time, the crisis does not exist for renewables: even with oil prices low – and contrary to some fears – investments are on the rise.
Unless we wake up to an overturn, Hillary Clinton will be the next president of the United States. In the final days of a campaign with little content, cheap shots and anything but stirring electoral debates, Donald Trump remains behind her in the polls, is – if at all possible – turning up the volume of the shouting match, and threatens to violate the 240-year basis of democracy in America by announcing that he might not acknowledge any winner other than himself.
The panel discussion for the launch of Aspenia 67 focused on the – if not insurmountable, then certainly worrying – energy gap that has arisen between the United States and Europe. On one side is the United States, which has almost achieved energy self-sufficiency thanks to its growing production of shale gas, and on the other is Europe, a sluggish continent which lacks coordinated infrastructure and a common regulatory framework, and which is exposed to serious geopolitical risks to the East (Russia and Ukraine) as well as to the South (the Maghreb and the countries of North Africa).
The panel discussion accompanying the launch of the latest issue of the Institute’s journal Aspenia was kick-started with the observation that while robots are still not even close to being human, they have certainly become central to the workplace and industry. Although some view automation and robotics as potential threats to employment, it was felt that they actually offer young people and others besides new work opportunities.
It is women who underestimate their abilities, don’t ask for anything and often put up with a less important job than they are capable of. And yet according to many statistical studies, they are more competent, better prepared, have higher university grades and are better managers. It is true to say that women are more versatile and flexible and they play a key role in integrating the various elements of society.
Kick-starting the panel discussion at the launch of the latest issue of the Institute’s Aspenia journal was the recognition that Milan was, is, and will continue to be Italy’s creative thinking capital.
Kick-starting the panel discussion accompanying the launch of the latest issue of Aspen Institute Italia’s Aspenia journal was the observation that in the twenty years since the founding of the journal in 1995 by Giuliano Amato, along with other prominent members of the Institute, the world has changed beyond recognition.
The manufacturing sector has changed considerably over recent years across the entire globe, and Italy too has undergone some very profound adjustments. But while every advanced country, with the exception of Germany, has lost major chunks of the manufacturing export market, a gradual upgrade and redistribution process has kept Italian manufacturing competitive despite a steep drop in domestic demand, and Italian sector firms have lost a smaller share than those of other more mature economies.
With issue 64 of the Institute’s Aspenia journal dedicated to Brazil, the panel discussion for the launch of the volume focused on examining recent developments in a country that has come through several consecutive years of internal political stability, during which the foundations were laid for its sustainable economic growth and greater international influence.
With issue 66 of the Institute’s Aspenia journal spotlighting, among other things, the Expo 2015 world’s fair to be held in Milan, the panel discussion for the launch of the volume examined the legacy of hosting such a global event. As a showcase of the best that the country has to offer, it was suggested that the event will not just have the admirable outcome of focusing international political debate on the world food problem and food security, but will also serve as a strategic litmus test for the city of Milan and its ambition to become an “ever-smarter city”.
At this event to launch the latest edition of Aspenia, the focus of debate was the fact that diverging trends in the world’s major economies have been made more patent than ever before by the financial crisis that erupted in 2008, and which, particularly in Europe, has since transformed into a sovereign debt crisis. Chief among these divergences are the almost opposite trajectories of emerging markets compared to those of traditionally advanced economies, the divide between Europe and the United States, and glaring disparities within the European Union.
At this event to discuss the latest issue of the Aspenia journal, it was observed that growth and jobs figures continue to deliver an undeniably worrying outlook for Europe, and Italy in particular. The Italian economy is still losing jobs, especially positions for young people, while the recovery is set to be slow (and uneven as between different parts of the country), with the expected increase in job opportunities falling below GDP growth.
At this Talk-Debate event organized in conjunction with ISPI to launch the latest edition of Aspenia, the members of the discussion panel underlined that 2012 is set to be a crucial year for the United States: not only a year in which anti-Obama sentiment and the presidential elections will play out, but also a period vital to understanding what America’s economic and political future holds. The economy, as in the days of Bill Clinton, will probably be the decisive issue.
The “European paradox” lies first and foremost in the great potential of the eurozone and the EU as an integrated economic bloc, which remains undeniable despite the serious difficulties of the past few months, and the concerns with the future solidity of the single currency: we are practically witnessing the crisis (hopefully a temporary crisis) of a giant on the global scene.
Innovation is a complex process that requires creativity and talent, as well as infrastructure, long-term investment and a truly effective merit-based system of incentives: these were the watchwords at this event to launch the latest issue of Aspenia. Indeed, it was observed that for a society to be innovative in the twenty-first century world, it must have the scope and ability to combine scientific research with applied technology, thereby transforming ideas into products or services that are useful from a market perspective.
The members of the debate panel at the launch of the latest edition of Aspenia considered what the future holds for the Obama presidency, observing that the US leader’s State of the Union address for 2011 also virtually marked the beginning of his long race for re-election. It was noted that the President’s popularity has recently received a boost both from his response to the massacre in Tucson at the beginning of January, and from the tax deal reached with Republicans at the end of last year.
