The 23rd edition of The Economist's annual compilation of forecasts, The World in 2009 examines critical issues that will shape the year ahead - including, of course, the aftershocks of the global financial crisis. Journalists from The Economist, prominent politicians and luminaries from the world of business look ahead to bring you their considered predictions on business, politics, technology and more.
Among the contributors to The World in 2009 are: President Luiz Inбcio Lula da Silva of Brazil; Queen Rania of Jordan; Kevin Rudd, prime minister of Australia; Josй Luiz Rodrнguez Zapatero, prime minister of Spain; and Henry Kissinger, a former US secretary of state. There are views on the future of finance and the global economy from Josef Ackermann of Deutsche Bank, Jeff Immelt of GE and Lakshmi Mittal of Arcelor Mittal. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, chairman of Nestlй, issues a mind-concentrating warning on water; his article is part of a special section on the environment (which will loom large in 2009 in the run-up to a mega-summit on global warming in Copenhagen at the end of the year). As ever, the publication is both entertaining and informative, telling readers what to expect in 2009 on topics ranging from Barbie to the International Year of Astronomy.