Will life be better or worse in 2025? It could go either way. Better pay could lead to more jobs, not fewer. The ongoing challenge to understand why some countries, against the odds, have fared better than others in face of the pandemic. Better batteries, ‘bigger’ and better AI feature amongst this year important technologies. How to make better use of our moral reserves – philosophy can help.

Business and central banks will weigh in on the side a circular economy. The latter, together with re-thinking growth and retreating from nature are some of the ways to build a more resilient future. COVID-19 will probably be a feature of that future but so will a growing resilience to it. For improved resilience against other illnesses, particularly cancer, exercise has an important role.

Escalating US-China competition is a given, military conflict need not be. What has COVID changed for good? Almost definitely our working habits – flexible hours and teleworking are here to stay. Israel is top of the class when it comes to tech and startups. Attention overload is today’s most pressing cognitive problem – the Monthly Barometer is here to help!

There is an emerging realization that failing to recognize the real value of nature has negative fallout in many areas of our lives. Thinking systemically is a pre-requisite to understand this and many other phenomena. Historically, ‘helicopter money’ is very rare but its use in 17th century Venice offers some insights. Science increasingly backs an inextricable link between our health and what we eat and where it comes.

Market manipulation by amateurs using the internet reaches new heights. At the service of right-wing extremism, it has already helped create challenging new forms of terrorism. Can productivity growth save our economies? The jury is still out. The need for public-private partnership in the race to net zero is beyond debate and the same goes for our everyday need for ‘weak ties’.

A ‘post- American’ world is perhaps closer than we think. Will this involve China challenging the dollar’s exorbitant privilege? Yes. Conspiracy theories, however, look set to continue unchallenged. Climate change-related risks are moving to another level. Good luck may feel in short supply, but the good news is we can contribute to making some of our own.