Is the world becoming more predictable?
The article examines whether global events are becoming more predictable or volatile, discussing economic, political, and geopolitical trends that challenge traditional forecasting models and experts' ability to anticipate major shifts.
Background
- The article examines whether global systems (economics, geopolitics, weather) are becoming more or less predictable, likely drawing on complexity science, risk modeling, and forecasting.
- Key context: After decades of relative stability (the "Great Moderation"), the post-2020 world has seen pandemic shocks, war in Ukraine, supply-chain disruptions, and volatile markets — raising doubts about our ability to foresee major events.
- Relevant thinkers and frameworks: Nassim Taleb ("Black Swan" theory of rare, high-impact events); Philip Tetlock (expert forecasting accuracy); complexity theory (how small changes cascade into large, hard-to-predict outcomes).
- The debate matters for investors, policymakers, and businesses who must decide how much to invest in prediction vs. building resilience against uncertainty.