Global Trends for Business and Society

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/wharton-global-trends-business

Introduction

### Course Review: Global Trends for Business and Society If you're looking to deepen your understanding of the dynamic forces shaping our world today, the **Global Trends for Business and Society** course offered by Coursera is a highly recommended option. Guided by Professor Mauro Guillen from the prestigious Wharton School, this course provides a comprehensive analysis of shifting global trends and their profound impact on business and society. #### Overview In this course, students are encouraged to critically analyze rapidly changing global trends, their effects on consumer and labor markets, financial systems, and geopolitical relationships among countries. The curriculum draws from both historical and contemporary real-world case studies, giving learners actionable insights into how changes in one society can reverberate across the globe. The course is structured into four in-depth modules, each focusing on a different aspect of global trends. #### Module Breakdown **Module 1: People and Markets Around the World** This introductory module emphasizes the correlation between population dynamics and geopolitical power. You will delve into key demographic indicators such as total fertility rates and life expectancy, learning how these factors influence global economic conditions. The module's focus on urbanization and migration challenges students to think critically about the implications of shifting populations on markets and societal structures. **Module 2: Money Around the World** Here, you’ll explore monetary trends and wealth distribution on a global scale. Critical economic concepts such as the Gini Coefficient and the Kuznets Curve are introduced, providing tools to assess economic inequality. This module also examines the rise of the global middle class, allowing students to understand how these demographic changes are reshaping consumer behavior. By the end, you will be equipped to analyze wealth's effects on organizations and societies. **Module 3: Global Economic and Financial Imbalances** This module provides an insightful analysis of financial imbalances on a global scale, with discussions centered around recent events like the European Zone crisis. Understanding trade dynamics, monetary unions, and the interlinkage of national economies equips learners with the skills to anticipate consequences of economic disparities in the geopolitical context. **Module 4: The Shifting Geopolitical Landscape** The final module focuses on global powers and their geopolitical significance. From examining political regimes to understanding soft and hard power resources, this section challenges students to analyze the implications of power shifts on international relations, conflict emergence, and market stability. The insights gained are crucial for anyone interested in positioning their business within an ever-evolving geopolitical landscape. #### Recommendation The **Global Trends for Business and Society** course is an invaluable resource for students, professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of global interactions. Its work-integrated learning approach, combining theory with real-world case studies, ensures that participants can analytically understand and engage with the global trends impacting their surroundings. If you are interested in global affairs, economics, or business strategy, I highly recommend enrolling in this course. It promises not only to enhance your knowledge but also to equip you with the tools necessary to make informed decisions in an increasingly interconnected world. Ultimately, this course empowers you to recognize how macro-level trends translate into micro-level implications for communities, businesses, and economies everywhere.

Syllabus

Module 1: People and Markets Around the World

In this module, we’ll begin by examining the relationship between population size and density to the geopolitical balance of power in the world. You’ll learn key aspects of demographics (such as total fertility and life expectancy at birth) and how rapid demographic growth or decline affects global economic and geopolitical dynamics. Then, you’ll evaluate the economic and political impact of urbanization and migration within societies, and the consequences of these changes in population dynamics, both within a society and between countries. By the end of this module, you’ll have a richer understanding of the impact of demographic trends on financial markets, political systems, culture, and society.

This module was designed to give you a deeper understanding of how monetary trends and the distribution of monetary wealth affect the globe. Through close examination of global poverty and income inequality, you’ll learn critical concepts such as the Gini Coefficient and the Kuznets Curve, and how to use them as tools in analyzing the global distribution of wealth. You’ll also explore the rise of the global middle class, and how businesses are responding to the growth of middle class consumption. Finally, you’ll investigate the relationship between changing gender dynamics and wealth in the world. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to use effective analytical tools to form a clearer understanding of the effect of wealth within society and how it affects your organization.

In this module, you’ll examine the growing issue of global economic and financial imbalances. Through relevant examples such as the European Zone crisis, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the effects of global economic dynamics on both individual countries and their relationships with one another. You’ll explore trade bloc controversies, different types of monetary unions (such as the European Union), and how financial imbalances affect the geopolitical balance and global economy. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to better assess the consequences of economic and financial imbalances on nations, markets, and societies, and be prepared to respond to these phenomena while making decisions for your organization and society.

In this module, you’ll explore global geopolitical landscapes and the global powers of the 21st century. Through examination of different political regimes—from autocracies to democracies—you’ll discover effective roles for states to play in society and its economy. You’ll also learn about failed states and anocracies, two importance sources of instability in the world, and how such instabilities manifest frictions and conflicts in the form of war and terrorism. Through analyzing the evolution of political regimes and failed states, you’ll learn the definition of global powers, the difference between and hard and soft power resources, and whether emerging global powers will cause dramatic changes in the existing geopolitical power structure. By the end of this module, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the trajectories of global powers, and be able to assess how the changes in geopolitical power structure will affect your business and society.