Current economic assumptions, which link growth directly to job creation, are increasingly challenged by technological advancements like automation and AI, as well as changes in ecological and planetary conditions that are associated with growing inequality and more informal economies. Many low- and middle-income countries have experienced such conditions for decades, which provides experience that can inform how the global workforce will evolve and how societies can build resilience against future shocks. The need to ensure decent and dignified lives and working conditions in such countries also points to the need for experimentation with economic policies that go well beyond mainstream perceptions of growth and development.
In addition, the narrow, monetised interpretation of value in Western models, exemplified in the concept of GDP as the basic indicator of economic progress, often overlooks crucial factors such as Indigenous knowledge systems, community-level practices, ecological health and long-term resilience. Embracing these alternative perspectives, and coupling them with interdisciplinary approaches and proactive strategies for sustainable development, will be crucial for navigating the complex economic landscape of the future.7
