The World Next Week
15-21 November 2008
On Saturday the world’s attention will focus on the Group of 20 heads of state summit in Washington, DC. Although President-elect Barack Obama will not be in attendance, the outcome of the summit will indicate the tone of coordinated global economic action to come in the next year, and perhaps beyond.
The issues on the agenda abound, from reform of international organisations to settling on a common approach to global financial regulation. In the back of many people’s minds, however, will be whether this summit portends to a larger role for emerging economies in the political balance of power in international economic organisation. Moreover, countries not present, such as small but wealthy Gulf States, and European countries wanting an independent voice, may be disgruntled that their voices are not heard.