For the past few years, I’ve posted up three lectures over the Christmas period that I think provides an interesting commentary on key issues of our time. The tradition is inspired by the Royal Society Christmas lectures that began with Michael Faraday in 1825.

It’s perhaps obvious to say that COVID-19 has been the dominant theme of the year, but as we continue to grapple with the virus, and the impact it’s having across society, I would like to use these lectures to explore what the world might look like after COVID.

Obviously the unique qualities of the year mean that these lectures have largely been delivered in webinar format rather than more traditional lectures, but hopefully that won’t diminish from their impact.

The first lecture today comes from Wharton’s Mauro F. Guillén and is based upon his recently published book 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape The Future of Everything.

The start of 2020 saw various predictions for the year ahead that have been rendered somewhat foolish looking by the subsequent pandemic, but the trends outlined by Guillén are likely to be far more enduring.  He covers things like global demographics and the growing power of non-Western economies.  To begin to envisage the post-COVID world, these things are likely to be key.