The current volume offers a concise and analytical portrait of the contemporary world. The author encompasses concepts and theories from multiple disciplines notably sociology, anthropology, international relations, and economics to examine the major sociocultural transformations of the modern world, their underlying causes, and their consequences. The volume is organized in 10 chapters dealing with a variety of topics including global demographic trends, globalization, culture, foreign affairs, emerging markets, environmental degradation, global security, global health, large corporations, and economic inequality. Each chapter is divided into separate sections examining the accompanying themes. This book is a valuable reference for managers and business leaders, students, policy makers, and all those who are interested in acquiring a better understanding of the sociocultural trends that are shaping our world.

Major Sociocultural Trends Shaping the Contemporary World encompasses concepts and theories from multiple disciplines notably sociology, anthropology, international relations, and economics to examine the major sociocultural transformations of the modern world, their underlying causes, and their consequences.

This book builds upon a wide variety of academic and professional resources to offer an in-depth analysis of the nature, causes, and consequences of major business and technology trends of our time. First, prospects for energy, commodities, water, food, and healthcare services are explored. Then, leading business transformations such as the sharing economy, Fourth Industrial Revolution, gig economy, and recent developments in the global economy are analyzed. Finally, innovation and emerging technologies including automation, robotics, connectivity, quantum computing, and new materials and energies are examined and their business implications are discussed. Major Business and Technology Trends Shaping the Contemporary World is a timely and relevant reference for business leaders, managers, students, and all those who are passionate about understanding our rapidly changing world.

"The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic marks the most significant, singular global disruption since World War II, with health, economic, political, and security implications that will ripple for years to come." -Global Trends 2040 (2021) Global Trends 2040-A More Contested World (2021), released by the US National Intelligence Council, is the latest report in its series of reports starting in 1997 about megatrends and the world's future. This report, strongly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, paints a bleak picture of the future and describes a contested, fragmented and turbulent world. It specifically discusses the four main trends that will shape tomorrow's world: - Demographics-by 2040, 1.4 billion people will be added mostly in Africa and South Asia. - Economics-increased government debt and concentrated economic power will escalate problems for the poor and middleclass. - Climate-a hotter world will increase water, food, and health insecurity. - Technology-the emergence of new technologies could both solve and cause problems for human life. Students of trends, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, journalists and anyone eager for a glimpse into the next decades, will find this report, with colored graphs, essential reading.

Practical and user friendly, the author describes all the key elements needed to negotiate deals that are doable, profitable, and sustainable. Based on decades of teaching and consultancies around the world, the author provides a useful guide for business executives operating in today’s digitalized global economy. This latest edition will help readers enhance their preparation, anticipate objections, create value for tangibles/intangibles, and avoid cultural blunders to reach mutually beneficial outcomes. By sharpening negotiation skills, business executives will be able to interact more effectively with their counterparts in the fast changing global business environment and the rising influence of third parties. Practical and user friendly, the author describes all the key elements needed to negotiate deals that are doable, profitable, and sustainable.

This book willenable the reader to develop global strategies based on trade information and trade flows analysis. Developing global business strategies in today’s competitive and disruptive environment calls for greater interaction between the business sector and government. Among the instruments available today are various market analytic tools. These tools, coupled with new business models, not only provide a competitive edge but also becomes a necessity to survive in the global ever changing trade environment. This book concerns everyone dealing with market selection, market strategies, and trade policy. The reader will be able to develop global strategies based on trade information and trade flows analysis. An analysis of the most competitive countries in world trade shows the importance of pro-business policies, access to modern infrastructures, investment in research, and increased productivity. The authors explain how to design practical strategies in a global context, greater competition and uncertainty due to the introduction of new business models.

Over the past decades China gained the reputation of being the world’s factory, focusing solely on manufacturing exports. This is about to change. The role of e-commerce is tremendously important in the context of the Chinese government’s stated goal of relying less on exports to the recession-stricken West and focusing more on domestic consumption as a driver for further economic growth. China’s online population is currently the largest online population worldwide. This book is aimed at assisting Western entrepreneurs, SMEs, investors and business students to understand and ideally enter the Chinese e-merging market. E-Commerce is an easy, fast, and cost-effective way of entering the Chinese market compared to more traditional ways of entry. It offers great opportunities for high profit gains to Western companies seeking to do business in China without the hurdle of heavy upfront investment. This book is designed to work as a step-by-step guide to the online marketplace environment in China. It provides a detailed overview of the Chinese online market and proposes different strategies available to foreign companies. It contains practical advice, the latest data and relevant links for further reference that Western SMEs, investors, and entrepreneurs can use to establish their online presence in China.