Global flows have been a common thread in economic growth for centuries, since the days of the Silk Road, through the mercantilist and colonial periods and the Industrial Revolution. But today, the movement of goods, services, finance, and people has reached previously unimagined levels. Global flows are creating new degrees of connectedness among economies—and playing an ever-larger role in determining the fate of nations, companies, and individuals; to be unconnected is to fall behind.
Contents
Executive summary 1
1. Global flows have created a tightly interconnected world economy 19
2. Digitization is transforming all flows 37
3. Networks of global flows are becoming deeper and broader 49
4. More countries and cities are participating in global flows 61
5. Sector perspectives on global flows 85
6. Global flows could triple by 2025 if current forces unfold 109
7. Capturing the opportunity will require smart strategy and policy 119