Signals

Discover the trends shaping our world, and explore the data underlying them, in this fascinating, visual journey.

In Signals, Visual Capitalist founder and editor-in-chief Jeff Desjardins and his team explore the 27 most important trends shaping the future of our global economy. This striking book draws on the oceans of data we're all surrounded by to extract insights about where we are and where we are headed—from society and demographics to the environment, digital tech, the markets, and more. It also includes:

• Infographics, charts, and other data visualizations that identify signals hiding in the data
• Discussions about the impact trends are having on the world around us
• A full bibliography with references to the data sourced by the author

Signals is a must-read for entrepreneurs, executives, policymakers, and regulators—or simply, anyone seeking to navigate a complex world.

Introduction xi

What Is a Signal? xii

01 Society & Demographics 1

Aging World 3

Urban Evolution 11

Rising Middle Class 19

Decentralization of Media 27

Rising Wealth Inequality 35

02 Environment 43

Climate Pressures 45

Water Crisis 53

Electrification of Everything 61

03 Digital World 69

Information Overload 71

Data as a Moat 79

Cyber’s Wild West 87

04 Technological Innovation 95

Accelerating Technology 97

The 5G Revolution 105

The New Space Race 113

CRISPR: Gene Editing at Scale 121

05 Money & Markets 129

Indebted World 131

Falling Interest Rates 139

Central Bank Impotence 147

Stock Market Concentration 155

Dwindling Corporate Longevity 164

Sustainable Investing 171

06 Consumer Behavior 179

Frictionless Retail 181

The Rise of Meatless Meat 189

Connected Health 197

07 Geopolitical Landscape 205

Bipolar World 207

Peak Globalization 215

Splinternet 223

Bibliography 223

Jeff Desjardins is the Editor-in-Chief of Visual Capitalist, a media site that creates and curates visuals on business and investing. His work has been featured in Forbes, CNBC, MarketWatch, The Huffington Post, The World Economic Forum, and The Wall Street Journal.

A revealing, visual exploration of the trends and forces that will shape tomorrow’s economy

Designed from scratch by the expert team at Visual Capitalist, Signals uses a data-driven approach to demonstrate straightforward, visually striking takeaways on the trends that will define the next decade of the global economy. The book highlights 27 distinct “signals” that assist in piecing together the future direction of the economy, society, and financial markets.

Each signal is accompanied by a graphical roadmap explaining how it came to be, along with a data-driven dashboard that showcases relevant datapoints. Indications of the signal’s overall strength are included, as well as charts and visualizations that put each signal into perspective and show its potential impact on the global economy.

Signals is an invaluable resource for entrepreneurs, executives, policymakers, and regulators trying to get a head start on the major factors that will shape what tomorrow looks like. It’s also a fascinating read for anyone with a personal or professional interest in the social, technological, and other forces that will impact how we live, work, and play in the coming decade.