Artikel ini dipetik dari iklan akhbar program Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2013 anjuran Khazanah Nasional yang bertemakan: Growth with Inclusion: In An Age of Paradox‘.
In the ancient Greek puzzle, Zeno’s Paradox, Achilles could never catch up with the tortoise. In today’s global socio-economic arena, developing countries – no matter how fast they grow – can never seem to catch up with developed countries. Is this a modern manifestation of Zeno’s Paradox? What will it take for developing nations to reach, or even overtake, the established leaders? And what other paradoxes are to be found within our understanding and view or markets, firms, society and people? The overall theme is always from four perspectives:
1. Macro & markets
- It is paradoxical that a US recovery is bad for emerging economies. How can this be explained?
- What will happen when monetary policy normalizes globally?
- Is there a new and potentially better economic system that may replace the various systems of the last few decades?
2. Firms & transformation
- Is it paradoxical that firms can be wealthy, but governments and large sections of society – which are customers of firms – can be poor. Is this sustainable?
- How do firms catch-up and overtake competitors? Is innovation essential to this? What kind of leadership is required?
- What is the significance and role of impact investing?Growth & development
- Is it paradoxical that GDP is growing and yet most people feel worse off? Have we lost all sense of social justice Can it be restored?
- What is the correct balance between government regulation and personal freedom/ empowerment?
- What is the role and direction of talent mobility in the race between the Old and New Players?
3. Leadership & people
- Is it not paradoxical that technology has connected people more than ever before, and yet they feel isolated? That people can live in mega-cities, and yet feel alone?
- How do we utilize this technology to drive more effective development? What kind of leadership is required?
- How do we decide when to follow existing best practices and when to upheave current practices altogether – creative destruction?
Things for us to think about.
p/s: Paradoxial thinking is good for your mind, but it’s not good in real world. Again, it’s a paradox!
Not only meets the eye 