As the global elite gather in the snow-clad Swiss Alps for #WEF26, the mood is “stormy.” World Economic Forum President Børge Brende opened the summit today with a warning that “geoeconomic confrontation” is now the single greatest threat to global prosperity.
The Top 5 Predictions for 2026:
The “Trade Bazooka” Effect: 53% of chief economists surveyed expect global economic conditions to weaken as the U.S. and EU move from friction to outright trade war.
AI Productivity Crossover: In a rare bright spot, 80% of experts expect a massive productivity surge in the U.S. and China this year as “Agentic AI” begins replacing traditional software workflows.
The Debt Wall: Nearly half of the respondents fear a sovereign debt crisis in emerging economies, as high interest rates and falling trade volumes make repayments impossible.
Greenland Volatility: Analysts predict that if the U.S.-EU tariff spiral continues, it could shave 0.5% off global GDP by December, specifically hitting the luxury and automotive sectors.
Market Realignment: Expect a shift away from global supply chains toward “Regional Fortresses”—where countries trade almost exclusively within their own geopolitical blocs.
