Why American Firms Rule the World
With a few notable exceptions, including Toyota, Sony, and Siemens, the world’s best firms all tend to be...
Is a New Tech Bubble Upon Us?
For the first time in nearly a decade, information technology IPOs with lots of buzz and high multiples are capturing...
The Future of Private Equity
Since the dot-com boom imploded a decade ago, private equity has been the most successful investment vehicle for the...
Re-Engineering the U.S. Economy
This is the third in a series explaining the broad implications of civilization's "fifth techno-economic revolution,"...
Recycling the Petrodollar Tsunami
published on: Apr 7, 2011
As discussed in prior issues, oil prices have risen dramatically in recent years as real demand growth has outstripped new supplies. Also, in...
Micro-Electromechanical Systems Become Mainst...
published on: Apr 6, 2011
The Trends editors have been tracking the evolution of MEMS technology for nearly two decades. In that time, these tiny systems have become...
Private Spaceflight Takes Off
published on: Feb 15, 2011
Throughout its history, space flight has been dominated by the public sector. But finally, the long-anticipated emergence of private-sector...
The Future of the Self-Driving Automobile
published on: Dec 15, 2010
In 2004, the Trends editors explained how state-of-the-art technology was moving rapidly toward the day when cars would drive themselves safely,...
Are Electric Cars Finally Here?
published on: Nov 15, 2010
Electric automobiles were pioneered at the earliest stages of the automobile industry, but they were quickly over-shadowed by those with internal...
Understanding How We Decide
published on: Jul 15, 2009
For the first time in history, we have almost instant access to all the data we need to make good decisions. Yet, time after time, people still make...
The New Era of Global Risk Management
published on: Mar 15, 2009
Over the past 18 months, we’ve witnessed what can happen when risks are wildly mispriced. Just as the aftermath of the 1929 stock market crash led...
The Myth of the Magic Start-Up
published on: Feb 15, 2009
In large part, reigniting the American economy depends on creating innovative new businesses that employ new technologies and new business models to...
Peer-to-Peer Lending
published on: Jan 15, 2009
Before banks became major institutions during the Renaissance, almost all lending took place between individuals. Now, with the help of online...
Oil Prices and Their Implications
published on: Dec 15, 2008
OPEC and Russia have enjoyed an unprecedented influx of cash since oil prices began to rise sharply in 2005. But after peaking at $147 a barrel,...
Defective Products
published on: Dec 15, 2008
China has become known as the “world’s factory.” But the focus on ever-cheaper products at ever-higher volumes has led to serious product...
The Newly Frugal American Consumer
published on: Dec 15, 2008
Everywhere you look, people seem to be trying to spend less. It started when the average national gasoline price hit $4.00 per gallon. Then,...
Restoring Economic Confidence
published on: Nov 15, 2008
Every market economy rises and falls based on the "rational expectations" that investors hold about the future. These expectations are driven by...
Death and Resurrection on Wall Street
published on: Nov 15, 2008
The business model that drove Wall Street for over 25 years has collapsed. What happened? What does it mean for the financial sector and the broader...
The Changing Realities of Food, Energy, Afflu...
published on: Sep 15, 2008
The population control movement was driven by a fundamental misunderstanding of how technology could -- and would -- transform economic realities....
American Technological Dominance Continues
published on: Aug 15, 2008
Contrary to what many pundits would have you believe, the U.S. still leads the world in scientific research and in developing new technology. Why is...