The World in 2015, the 29th edition of The Economist's annual compilation of predictions for the year ahead, is now available on newsstands and on The World in 2015 app

The World in 2015 includes predictions from former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Italy's prime minister, Matteo Renzi, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, magician David Blaine and more

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The Economist

Nov 20, 2014, 12:00 ET

LONDON, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The World in 2015, the 29^th edition of The Economist's annual compilation of predictions for the year ahead, is available on newsstands beginning today. It looks at the key events, issues and trends that will shape the coming year. In addition to Economist journalists, former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Microsoft's founder Bill Gates and magician David Blaine are among the contributors who offer their views on what 2015 will bring.

This year's edition expects a bumpy year ahead. Federal Reserve rate rises, the troubles of the euro zone's laggards and worries about Chinese growth all have the potential to cause periods of panic. International co-operation on many issues will suffer from the strength of nationalism. Political divisions in America will be even more glaring than before as a Republican-controlled Congress confronts President Barack Obama.

Yet progress is likely in all sorts of areas in 2015. The world economy should grow a bit faster than it did in 2014, led by America. The West's belated response to the outbreak of Ebola and the rise of Islamic State should begin to have an impact. A trans-Pacific free-trade deal is within reach. So is a peace agreement between Colombia's government and the FARC guerrillas; with luck, that will end more than half a century of fighting.

At times the progress in technology will be almost spooky, as smartphones seem to read their owners' minds, cheap sequencing reads genomes and cars accelerate towards intelligent communication. In Silicon Valley, wearable technology will be all the rage. Plucky teams will prepare to break world records on land, on water and in the air. And, after travelling for nine years and across 3 billion miles, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will reach Pluto in July. "For all its divisions," says Daniel Franklin, editor of The World in 2015, "the world will have a chance to join together in wonder."

The World in 2015 features forecasts for 81 countries and 14 industries, a report card on what The Economist got right and wrong in 2014 and a calendar of events around the world in 2015.

The World In 2015 is now available on newsstands. A full digital edition of The World In 2015 is available as an app on iPad, iPhone, Android tablet and Android smartphone. Keep up with predictions on 2015 with Twitter handle @EconWorldIn.

For details on this press release or to arrange an interview with Daniel Franklin, please contact:

Rose Levy
Havas PR
+1 202-262-1635
[email protected]

About The Economist (www.economist.com)

With a growing global circulation (now more than 1.5 million including both print* and digital) and a reputation for insightful analysis and perspective on every aspect of world events, The Economist is one of the most widely recognised and well-read current affairs publications. The paper covers politics, business, science and technology, and books and arts, concluding each week with the obituary. In addition to the web-only content such as blogs, debates and audio/video programmes available on the website, The Economist is now available to download for reading on Android, Blackberry PlayBook, iPhone or iPad devices.

*Audit Bureau of Circulations Worldwide, Jan-Jul 2014

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SOURCE The Economist