Exploring the Economist’s Top 10 Trends For the World Ahead in 2022: Cross-Subject Current Affairs Questions and Debates For University Applications
The Economist is a brilliant source to increase general awareness of subject-specific current affairs for personal statement writing and university interviews. The magazine (and Economist podcasts) are not only fantastic for aspiring economists, but students preparing for a whole array of STEM and Humanities courses. In this Curious Minds digest, we explore five of the Economist’s top 10 trends for the world ahead in 2022, posing a range of Oxbridge interview-style questions and offering reading suggestions for students looking beyond the syllabus in their degree preparation.
Trend Number 1: Democracy vs Autocracy
“Rivalry between America and China will shape the post-covid world”, the Editor-in-chief of the Economist is quoted in the opening article of the edition. Beddoes frames the tense relationship between America and it’s challenger, China, as a wider conflict between two divergent systems of government.
Interview Question: Which system is better at delivering stability, growth and innovation? (Beddoes)
“The East is rising and the West is declining”, Chinese officials are quoted as saying in Beddoes’ article on the rivalry between America and China. Is this true? Beddoes’ article is split between political and economic factors – you could think about:
Political
Xi Jinping’s efforts to conceal instability e.g. rising protests over China’s “re-education” camps
The dishonouring of democracy in the West e.g. the upcoming French elections, a failing Biden (not to mention the Covid party scandal in the UK)
Economic
Xi’s regulation of tech companies and tough restrictions on industries such as video-gaming and tutoring
Post-pandemic re-opening: China’s zero-covid policy vs an imminent relaxation of rules in the West
China’s shrinking work force
The rise of high inflation in America
Trend Number 2: Pandemic to endemic
As the wonders of modern medicine allow the pandemic to become endemic in the world’s developed countries, the developing world remains in danger. WHO set a target for all countries to vaccinate 10% of their populations by the end of September, but 56 countries, mostly in Africa, have not been able to reach the target due to vaccine inequity.
Interview Question: How significant is global inequality?
Clue: Vaccine inequity can be used as a case study. Think about the different dimensions of inequality: economic, political, social, cultural, environmental, knowledge-based…
Further reading for aspiring medicine applicants:
Article: “Healthcare inequality between countries grows despite global improvements” (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), 19 May 2017
Further watching for aspiring politics applicants on covid vaccines and colonialism:
What COVID Vaccines Reveal: Myth and Reality of Post-Colonial Global Health - YouTube
Trend Number 3: Inflation worries
Beddoes cites “supply chain disruptions and a spike in energy demand” as causes of current inflation, with Britain worst hit due to Brexit. Check out our article on questions arising from the Energy Shortage. Great for those looking to study a scientific or social science degree (e.g. Geography, Economics, Politics etc.) alike.
Interview Question: Does the jump in public debt arising from the pandemic pose a major inflation risk?
Trend Number 4: The new techlash
Xi Jinping’s crackdown on tech firms provides a stark contrast to the West’s lacklustre attempts at regulation. Beddoes asks whether China’s focus on “deep tech” in favour of “frivolities” such as video games, will boost Chinese innovation or stifle the dynamism of the industry. What do you think?
For those approaching university law applications, consider the pros and cons of tech regulation through a legal lens. This article should help!
Further Reading:
Article: “Regulation is Coming for the Digital Transformation” by David S Evans (Oxford Business Law Blog)
Trend Number 5: Climate crunch
The threat of climate collapse raises economic questions, political questions, scientific questions…Beddoes references the geopolitical rivalry between the West and China as a potential barrier to global co-operation over decarbonisation. He also spotlights a Harvard team’s exciting new research on solar geoengineering.
Interview Question: Can climate trump politics?
Interview Question: What will happen if we do not stop climate change?
This year’s heatwave has hit the headlines, with temperatures of 38 degrees in parts of the UK. There will be other effects though - both for the environment and for society. Can you explain what they might be?
Further reading and questions for those aspiring to a STEM degree:
There are a lot of imaginations around the future of energy - it is important to practically assess the viable solutions and discuss the various nontechnical challenges that might determine the future of our planet.
Question: How can nature help us reach net zero carbon?
Naked Scientists podcast: ‘Capturing Carbon: Beyond Woodland’
Without Hot Air: https://www.withouthotair.com/
This guide is used like the textbook for teaching about sustainable energy on the University of Cambridge Engineering course. The numbers might be a bit out of date, but the analysis method is still very relevant, and you'll be able to find updated numbers relative easily if you wanted to calculate more up to date estimations. You can download a free pdf, browse it via the website, or even buy a physical copy. The synopsis is here if you want to get the essence before committing to read the whole thing: https://www.withouthotair.com/synopsis10.pdf
Final Task:
Explore the other five Economist trends: The future of work, Crypto grows up, travel trouble, space races and political footballs. Pre-empt questions each trend raises and relate to your subject/s of interest. If you are approaching Oxbridge or other top university interviews, note down some of these key trends and built out your list with more subject-specific additions.
What other trends do you think will assert themselves in the world ahead?
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