1-Sentence-Summary: 2030 uses the current trajectory of the world, based on sociological, demographic, and technological trends, to outline the changes we can expect to happen in our lives by the beginning of the next decade.
Read in: 4 minutes
Favorite quote from the author:
If you told someone in 2019 about everything that would happen in 2020, they might not believe you. Who could’ve predicted a global pandemic, raging wildfires, a stock market crash, and worldwide racial justice protests?
We can never predict everything, but luckily, there is a way to make informed predictions about what might be headed our way. In 2030: How Today’s Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything, Mauro F. Guillen makes some well-informed predictions using a range of current demographic and sociological trends along with new technological advancements.
From low birth rates to increased female wealth to climate change, is detailed predictions will help you prepare for the next decade.
Here are 3 of the most insightful lessons from this book:
- Our world will never be the same again because of declining birth rates.
- In 2030, women will have more than half of the world’s wealth.
- Cryptocurrency will continue to rise in popularity, and by 2030 we might tap into its full potential.
Let’s hop into the Delorean and head to the future! 2030 here we come!
Lesson 1: Declining birth rates are making our world change permanently.
A little more than 50 years ago, many people were worried about the prospect of overpopulation. Guillen argues we should be worried about the opposite: a baby drought.
Since the 1970s, US women have, on average, had fewer than two kids each. So basically, we don’t even have enough children to replace current generations.
Some people might say this is a good thing. That the planet needs fewer of us. But without the next generation, we can’t take care of the ever-growing share of elders. Whose taxes will finance their pensions?
The reason the birth rate has declined dramatically is that there are more women in the workforce. Because those women are actively working, they are more likely to wait until they are established in their field before having children. Because fertility drops with age, they tend to have fewer children if they decide to start a family.
But that’s not the only reason. People are also having less sex. The Archives of Sexual Behavior published a study that found that in the 2010s, Americans had sex nine times less per year on average than in the 1990s. Why? Technology has put more, other enjoyable distractions into our homes, like gaming, the internet, and endless TV.
But not every country is experiencing this drastic decline in birth rates. There is currently a population boom in sub-Saharan Africa. Because they rely on imported food, markets for food in this area will become a trillion-dollar sector. Western nations might also have to change their stances on immigration from this sector, relying on African immigrants to replace their own declining populations.
Lesson 2: Women will have over 50% of the world’s wealth by 2030.
One major change coming in 2030 is that women will hold more than half of the world’s wealth for the first time. Women are often primary caregivers to children and family members, thus losing years of work, which means missing out on salary advances male counterparts enjoy.
But the good news for working women is that the pool of qualified workers will shrink thanks to the combination of low birth rates and an aging population. This change means that businesses will start relying on working caregivers more than they ever have.
Thankfully, according to polls, we are more positively disposed toward women who hold positions of power than ever. And with that power comes money.
With this change comes changes in global spending. The author predicts we will see increases in spending on education, health care, and insurance. Typically, women have been bigger spenders in this area. When it comes to investments, women will likely go for safer investments such as index funds.
Lesson 3: In the next few years, cryptocurrency’s influence will rise.
As technology moves forward, money is also changing. People are increasingly comfortable with more abstract forms of money. The next potential revolution in money is cryptocurrency. While Bitcoin might seem a little bit too on the fringe for your average person, by 2030, the author predicts cryptocurrencies will become mainstream.
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin work completely online through a peer-to-peer system. Bitcoin isn’t associated with any government or even any bank. All transactions are available online for the public. They are shown on the public record called a blockchain.
Each block is a recorded transaction, and they are all strung together to make an encrypted blockchain. The blockchain’s code means it cannot be tampered with because it would be immediately known. This makes it the world’s most secure form of currency.
Even though it comes from solid technology, people are still mostly sticking to bank accounts rather than switching to crypto. It’s understandable since its valuation is always fluctuating all over the place.
But blockchain technology has huge potential to revolutionize money as we know it. It would mean no more middlemen to process transactions and no more money controlled by banks and governments. It could also help us be more ethical in our spending.
An example of this is Dexio, an app that uses the blockchain to track diamond transactions so consumers can avoid buying blood diamonds. The technology could also make e-voting more secure as well as decrease online piracy. This is one of the many ways cryptocurrency could completely change money as we know it; if only we can finally embrace it.
2030 Review
I love speculating about the future, so naturally, I really enjoyed 2030. The great thing about this book is that it’s not just guessing, but the authors base the information on current trends in society. I can’t wait to see how things actually shake out over the next 10 years!
Who would I recommend the 2030 summary to?
The 27-year-old that works in the tech industry and wants to stay ahead, the 65-year-old who feels behind because of the accelerating changes they’ve seen in the world throughout their lifetime, and anyone curious to know what the future holds.
Last Updated on December 26, 2023
