The UK – a safe haven in uncertain times
A quick look at the news and it is quickly clear that many of the challenges and risks facing us today result from our fracturing geopolitical environment.
Wherever you look, a diminishing faith in democracy across the world (the 2017 Democracy index registered the worst year for global democracy since 2010-11 in the aftermath of the global economic and financial crisis. 89 countries experienced a decline in their total score compared with 2016) and the rising tensions between countries such as Russia and the West means the extreme connectivity between nations and individuals are among the key risks of our age.
Political and sectarian ideology is becoming the key factor driving geopolitical volatility, while technology is making the world flatter as well as more connected. At the same time, cultural and religious divides cause their own fracture points and friction across economies around the world. Hierarchies everywhere are struggling to contain the power of technology networks and the ideas that spread via them.
Fracturing wealth, social mobility and social cohesion, allied with religion tensions, are being played out in a grand narrative with implications for trade as these all too human drivers of change cut across each other.
In such an environment, global citizens do well to consider safe havens like London. Planning for the unforeseen events that impact our lives and those of our families has never been more important to those who live in unstable jurisdictions. It would be wise to model a range of potential scenarios that could play out, including the impact on trade, foreign direct investment, liberalisation and regulation, immigration, trade policy and wider geopolitical uncertainty.
If you want to know more about how we can help you and your loved ones get in touch.