Global Scans · Decent Work and Growth · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

• [New] Two-thirds of global population growth by 2050 will take place in cities and will be concentrated in seven countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia. The Joint Research Centre: EU Science Hub
• [New] The Malaysian financial group expects the Thai government to launch consumer subsidies in the fourth quarter by using carried-over fiscal resources to lift household spending, resulting in GDP growth of 1.2% in the final quarter of 2025. https://www.bangkokpost.com
• [New] Analysts increasingly expect the Bank of Thailand to cut the policy interest rate at its meeting next month after GDP growth fell to the weakest pace in four years in the third quarter amid weakening domestic demand, slower public investment and a tourism slump. https://www.bangkokpost.com
• [New] Regulatory scrutiny and risks associated with geopolitical tensions in key markets, such as China, represent significant headwinds that could impact growth and valuation metrics. PandaForecast.com
• [New] Tesla's Optimus robot initiative appears to be a significant long-term growth opportunity. PandaForecast.com
• [New] Unlike Nvidia, whose valuation is firmly rooted in its AI leadership and sizeable recurring revenues, Tesla's stock appears to be pricing in speculative growth in areas not yet operationalized, introducing significant downside risk. PandaForecast.com
• [New] A managed economic slowdown is ahead for China's economy, forecasting growth of 4.5% in 2025 and 4.1% in 2026. AXA IM Corporate
• [New] China is likely to stick to its current annual economic growth target of around 5% in 2026, government advisers and analysts said, as Beijing is set to embark on a new five-year plan with sharper focus on boosting consumer demand and advancing technological self-reliance. 93.3 The Drive
• [New] Credo Technology Group Holding, while experiencing significant insider selling recently, is poised for robust growth with revenue expected to increase by 24.2% annually and earnings projected to grow at 28% per year. Simply Wall St
• [New] Sub-Saharan Africa: In contrast, SSA, with a young population, is positioned to experience a significant demographic dividend, potentially boosting annual GDP per capita growth by an average of 0.37 percentage points between 2024 and 2050. CEPR
• [New] India is expected to enjoy robust growth at 6.6% and 6.2% in 2025 and 2026, respectively, while key ASEAN economies Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines are all set to post growth rates above 4% in 2025 and 2026. Asia House
• [New] India's GDP growth which is expected to average 6.7% between fiscals 2025 and fiscal 2031 - helping it retain the tag of the fastest-growing large economy - will generate its own tailwinds. crisil
• [New] India's Growth Outlook Strengthens for 2025-26: The International Monetary Fund has projected a 6.6% GDP growth for India in FY 2025-26, reaffirming its position among the fastest-growing major economies. Current Affairs Usthadian Academy
• [New] Smart contracts are revolutionizing transactions in 2025 through AI integration, scalability enhancements like ZK-rollups, and cross-chain interoperability, driving growth from $4 billion to $21.2 billion by 2034. WebProNews
• [New] Global LNG demand is projected to rise by approximately 60% by 2040, driven by economic growth in Asia and the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence. FinancialContent
• [New] Artificial Intelligence has dominated industry conversations in recent years, but 2026 will mark a pivotal moment when AI will make the move from a tool for operational efficiency to a powerful strategy for unlocking growth. JOOR
• [New] S&P Global projects global growth of 2.7% for 2025 and 2.6% for next year, with the outlook for 2026 trimmed slightly from earlier estimates, underscoring that caution and selectivity are essential. Capital Advisors
• [New] Brazil's Supreme Court is expected to decide in 2026 whether an employment relationship exists between drivers and ride-hailing apps, the so-called uberization of work. valorinternational
• [New] Recent strategic initiatives include the establishment of innovation hubs in the UK and South Korea to drive growth in key markets like footwear and advanced foam solutions, though management's limited tenure may pose execution risks. Webull
• [New] Recent federal actions threaten New York's expansive higher education sector's ability to attract and cultivate talent and conduct the cutting-edge research and development that help spur innovation and economic growth. Office of the New York State Comptroller
• [New] South Asia too will experience strong growth, primarily due to India. CEPR

Last updated: 07 December 2025