People, Technology, and Globalization: a New System of Coordinates
Key Takeaways
- The world is transitioning to "Globalization 2.0" — a multilayered networked system in which sovereign national development platforms, new centers of global growth, connector countries, and non-state actors (digital platforms, decentralized networks) are playing increasingly important roles.
- Rising public debt, high transaction costs, and the politicization of cross-border payments make traditional finance expensive and vulnerable. Demand is growing for alternative mechanisms (central bank digital currencies, tokenization).
- Declining fertility and increasing life expectancy are driving accelerated population aging and, consequently, higher pressure on pension systems, healthcare, and long-term care. At the same time, demographic changes are uneven: most countries in Asia and Latin America are aging faster than Europe and North America, while Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to experience a "youth bulge" by 2050. These trends will reshape population distribution and urban development.
- Technological transformation determines the productivity of economies. AI is evolving toward agentic architectures, while digital platforms are increasingly governing markets through algorithms. Autonomous systems and robotics are transforming both entire economic sectors and everyday life. Biotechnology is already opening a new growth frontier in medicine, agriculture, and chemistry.
- Human capital transformation is the key to adapting to the new technological reality. Education is becoming a continuous process, career paths are becoming less linear, and healthcare is shifting from disease treatment to quality-of-life management.
The report combines data analysis from international organizations (IMF, UN, World Bank, and others) with a foresight approach. It is based on expert dialogues held in January 2026, as well as more than 1,600 essays from the international competition submitted by participants from 100 countries.
If you have ideas for advancing the project or would like to explore collaboration opportunities, please contact us at trim@trimcenter.ru.
We welcome contributions from external experts and are open to strategic partnerships and joint initiatives.
Learn more about the Open Dialogue project at dialog.russia.ru.
Authors
- Natalia Stapran
Natalia Stapran
Director
- Margarita Rudnik
Margarita Rudnik
Head of Strategic Research Projects, Deputy Director
- Yaroslav Yalovenko
Yaroslav Yalovenko
Head
Global Economy and International Institutions
- Ilya Radaev
Ilya Radaev
Editor
- Alexander Guryanov
Alexander Guryanov
Lead Analyst
Global Economy and International Institutions
- Gregory Chepkov
Gregory Chepkov
Lead Expert
Macroeconomic Policy and Financing Economic Growth
- Nadezhda Yurchenko
Nadezhda Yurchenko
Analyst
Macroeconomic Policy and Financing Economic Growth
- Alexander Dyukarev
Alexander Dyukarev
Lead Expert
Digitalization and New Economic Models
- Anastasiia Kim
Anastasiia Kim
Lead Expert
Effective Government Policies
- Daniil Maximenko
Daniil Maximenko
Lead Expert
Spatial Development and Living Environment
- Andrey Maximov
Andrey Maximov
Head
Technology and Industries
- Polina Bulatova
Polina Bulatova
Open Dialogue Project Manager
Global Economy and International Institutions
- Yulia Kondrateva
Yulia Kondrateva
Junior Analyst
Human Capital Development and Labor Market
- Anna Kuzmina
Anna Kuzmina
Lead Analyst
Technology and Industries
- Elizaveta Ladygina
Elizaveta Ladygina
Junior Analyst
Human Capital Development and Labor Market
- Nikolay Leus
Nikolay Leus
Expert
Technology and Industries
- Daria Riazanova
Daria Riazanova
Proofreader