Summary
Chief economists framed 2026 as a tense mix of resilient trade and growth, especially in Asia, against risks from AI bubbles, debt, and structurally higher interest rates. The panel highlighted cracks beneath US labor-market strength, China’s challenge of shifting from export-led growth to consumption, and rising capital demands from AI, energy, infrastructure, and defense.
Key Topics
5 key topics from Gilles Moec, Karen Harris, Nela Richardson and Shen Jianguang at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026. Thicker branches were mentioned more often in the talk.
Chief Economists Briefing - What to Expect in 2026
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Key Takeaways
- Monitor labor-market cracks beneath strong headline growth.
- Plan for structurally higher long-term interest rates.
- Track AI investment risks alongside productivity gains.
- Assess China opportunities in services and consumption.
- Stress-test strategies against debt and funding pressures.
“underneath that surface at the granular level, you're seeing the cracks.”
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