The World in 2020: Power, Culture and Prosperity - A Vision of the Future [Paperback]

His book is divided into three parts. The first part, "Where the World Stands Now" provides answer to issues such as; what makes countries grow, the importance of growth, how does growth happen, the new motors of growth, and measuring efficiency. McRae also provides an in-depth look at North America: The Giant Retreat, Europe: The Babble of Many Tongues and East Asia: The Fragile Boom, as these issues relate to these geographical areas of the world.

McRae uses the second part of the book to discuss "The Forces for Change." Besides examining forces already know, McRae explores other factors such as; age and growth, the differences between older and younger societies, the 'haves' and 'have-nots', and other demographic issues. McRae also discusses resources and the environment, trade and finance, technology, and government and society.

In conclusion, McRae utilizes the third part of the book to share his vision of "The World in 2020." He sees the United States remaining as the only superpower but with tremendous growth in East Asia and Europe. McRae makes suggestions on which countries may or may not prosper in the years ahead based upon their political, social and environmental conditions and the events in a global market.

As a doctoral student at Pepperdine University with interests in education, technology and future trends, I highly recommend this book to all that share these interests. I enjoy Hamish McRae's open, objective and informative view of the future. The book is packed full of many insightful tid-bits of information and avoids making pessimistic or optimistic exaggerations about the future to promote a personal agenda. Read and enjoy, and thank you Hamish McRae!

Although the title was originally published in 1994, surprisingly little is noticeably out of date, a tribute to McRae's restraint and the cogency of his thesis: that social responsibility and creativity are the fundamentals of future growth. Nations and their allies who can throttle back on short-term consumption, a form of social responsibility, will enjoy sustainable long-term success. Their less providential counterparts are destined for declining quality of life.

The world of 2020 is divided, like Caesar's Gaul, into three parts: North America, East Asia, and Europe. The leading economy will likely be in Asia fueled by a culture of work and thrift and China's emergence as the world's dominant economy. Europe, stimulated by economic cooperation and a culture of thrift, is expected to be the second power, with North America - oddly omitting Mexico as part of the continent - trailing largely due to a spendthrift nature. North America's ace in the economic hole is its creativity with global demand for entertainment and education increasing.

While there seems to be little chance, in McRae's opinion, of widespread calamity or global war, the generation leading the world into 2020 may be the last generation to avoid such problems as pressures affecting stability increase.