The times they are a-changin’, wrote Bob Dylan in his classic song, capturing the enduring essence of transformation that our world has perpetually confronted. This year, the ripple effects of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis have deepened the divide between advanced economies (AEs) and emerging markets (EMs). Allianz Research’s newly published Social Resilience Index (SRI), which encompasses 12 indicators measuring economic and social vulnerabilities for 185 countries, marked a decline, amplifying the potential for social risk.
A story of economic divides: Advanced economies (AEs) vs. emerging markets (EMs)
Driven by factors such as currency depreciations, higher import bills for food and fuel as a percentage of GDP, and falling labor force participation, the gap in social resilience between AEs and EMs has widened. Denmark continues its top position in the social resilience ranking, followed closely by Finland and Switzerland. Latin America, having experienced a reduction in social risk over recent years, now ranks better than Emerging Asia. A distinctive divide is evident between net food- and fuel-importing nations, which have seen their social risk climb. Commodity-exporting countries like the UAE and Qatar made significant jumps in rankings.
A shifting landscape: Conflict, elections, and global dynamics
As we approach a packed election calendar in 2024, rising potential for conflict may amplify social risks. Such unrest can stall crucial private investments in infrastructure. With 75% of the global GDP—including the U.S., the EU, and India—gearing up for elections, countries to closely monitor include not just “hot spots” like Senegal and Ghana, but also those with hidden vulnerabilities preceding often-contested elections.
Civil engagement and the quest for greater social resilience
Looking ahead, enhancing social resilience goes beyond mere economic and redistribution policies. It embodies a push for increased civil participation and robust AI policy frameworks in order to manage potential threats like job losses and misinformation spread. Notably, countries that rank high on the Social Resilience Index, such as Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, and Iceland, also exhibit pronounced levels of civil engagement. The correlation suggests that heightened civil participation may act as a buffer against escalating social risk.
The AI paradigm: Navigating social implications
The rise of generative AI brings forth challenges and discussions around societal repercussions. Governments are gradually establishing responsive regulations to counter labor displacement risks and other potential threats to social stability. AEs, with dominant service sectors, face the challenge of matching the relentless pace of technological evolution to ensure they remain both competitive and socially cohesive.
About Allianz
The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers with more than 122 million* private and corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 714 billion euros** on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 1.7 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are among the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2022, over 159,000 employees achieved total revenues of 152.7 billion euros and an operating profit of 14.2 billion euros for the group***.
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