Global Economic Futures Competitiveness in 2030 2025

Foreword The global economy remains in flux, with uncertainty reaching unprecedented heights. Growth prospects are uneven, policy constraints are hardening and geopolitical tensions are increasingly shaping economic activity. In this evolving context, competitiveness – the ability of countries and firms to adapt, thrive and deliver prosperity – has become more contested and consequential. This second edition of the Global Economic Futures series explores the future of competitiveness through the interaction of geopolitics and regulation – two drivers reshaping the environment for countries and businesses alike. Flows of goods, services, finance, data and talent are being reconfigured, prompting a reassessment of long- standing assumptions about openness, resilience and value creation.The report uses scenario analysis to explore diverging trajectories for the global economy. It presents four distinct scenarios for 2030 based on varying degrees of geopolitical division and regulatory stringency. It also offers a data-driven view of how 12 key sectors may fare across these futures. The aim is not to predict the future but to equip decision-makers with tools for navigating uncertainty. The report encourages leaders to look beyond short-term disruptions and consider how today’s decisions can shape the future of competitiveness. We hope this edition will support public- and private-sector leaders as they confront a world in which decisions must be made amid an increasingly fractured and fast-moving global system.Aengus Collins Head, Economic Growth and Transformation, World Economic ForumKathleen O’Reilly Senior Managing Director, Accenture Global Economic Futures: Competitiveness in 2030 June 2025 Global Economic Futures: Competitiveness in 2030 3