The Buttonwood Gathering 2012
In the three most important regions of the global economy—China, the US, and Europe—there is either the reality or the possibility of new leadership, and with it—fresh ideas, new priorities and a different trajectory. Has the global economy entered a new chapter?
In China, the main engine of global economic growth since the financial crisis, a once-in-a-decade change in leadership of the Communist Party, is underway. In America, the world’s biggest economy, a presidential election looms and the economy shows hints of recovery. In Europe, where an unresolved sovereign-debt crisis simmers, incumbent leaders in France, Greece, and Spain have been ousted and voters angry over high unemployment and steep budget cuts continue to remake the political landscape.
What will the next chapter of the global economy look like? Will the problems of the recent past—the euro-zone crisis, high energy prices, high levels of debt in America and beyond—still define economic conditions? Will China remain on a hyper-accelerated growth path? Can America reduce its stubbornly high unemployment rate? What are the implications of abundant natural gas and oil shales on the global energy dynamic? Has financial regulation gone too far?
The 2012 Buttonwood Gathering will convene leaders in finance, economics, business, academia and government to discuss and debate the challenges and opportunities of the next chapter of the global economy. Chaired by The Economist’s Editor in chief, John Micklethwait, The Buttonwood Gathering is designed for business leaders from a variety of industries who rely on a deep understanding of global financial markets and key drivers of the global economy.
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