Newsletter: Will the Future Be Abundant?

ARGUING YES

Peter Diamandis

Founder and Executive Chairman

of the XPRIZE Foundation

ARGUING NO

Peter Zeihan

Geopolitical Strategist

GUEST MODERATOR

Xenia Wickett

Geopolitical Strategist;

Principal at Wickett Advisory;

Trustee of Transparency International UK

Here is what we have in store this week:

We debate whether our abundant present will keep going or come to an end
A closer look at projections of global economic growth in the next few years
Your Sunday reading list

The generations before us would be amazed at what our lives look like now— but there are concerns that the abundant world we’re living in now will not last for much longer. We have two debaters this week discussing the state of that abundant future.

Arguing “yes” this episode is the founder and executive chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation Peter Diamandis, who is also the author of “Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think.” Arguing “no” is Peter Zeihan, a geopolitical strategist who recently published “The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization,” and was previously in our Bet on America debate. Debuting as a guest moderator for Open to Debate is Xenia Wickett, who is a principal at Wickett Advisory and an international affairs advisor.

What factors secure an abundant future?

Technology: It makes us more productive and prosperous.
Mortality Rates in Decline: Fewer people are dying due to lower mortality rates over the last couple hundred years.
Climate Change Solutions: Our leaders are taking steps to diminish the effects of climate change, which technology also promises to solve.

What jeopardizes an abundant future?

Deglobalization: Trends point to the collapse of consumption and global trade.
China’s Economic Outlook: China is expected to decline, due to low birth rates and high labor costs.
Demographics: Fewer working-age adults will replace Baby Boomers in the workforce.

This week, our debate question is Will the Future Be Abundant? PS: Keep listening to hear artificial intelligence help Peter Diamandis make his closing arguments.

As you’re relaxing by the fire, put on your local public radio station or favorite podcast platform, and debate with our community online. Thanks for listening and have a happy holiday season.

DEBATING THE DATA

Which Places in the World Will Be More Abundant in 2024?

POINT/COUNTERPOINT

Will the Future Be Abundant?

YES: Peter Diamandis

“We’re living in a world where everything that we used to view as scarce – access to food, water, energy, healthcare, education — is blossoming… those things that used to be scarce are becoming abundant. There is a huge amount of data that drives towards this vision that abundance is, in fact, the future.”

NO: Peter Zeihan

“Developing new technologies requires a huge number of people in their 20s and their 30s who are social, who can work as a team and can imagine the future then figure out how to operationalize it. In the 2010s, we had exactly that world… That’s over. We’re going to find out… in just the next five years whether or not we can retool fast enough.”