Finance has been long neglected when contemplating possible global developments. Only in recent years it has become possible that finance is not only the “lubricant of the real economy” but also a steering device. In their first report to the European academy of arts and sciences, an international and interdisciplinary commission has examined the correlation between financial markets and sustainability. Under the methodological direction of ScMI AG scenarios were created and assessed with regard to their sustainability in order to include the future development possibilities in the discussion of proposed solutions. The scenarios are based on the analysis of circa 100 influencing factors from which 22 key factors were extracted using an interconnection analysis. The combination of alternative future projections provided six consistent scenarios:

• Scenario I: The corporate world - Industrialised states dominate and promote the economic development using the global financial market
• Scenario II: Freedom that is none - The escalation of the location competition between regions leads to the division of the industrialised countries
• Scenario III: The flood lifts all boats - International organisations secure free movement of capital and provide equal participation in growth
• Scenario IV: Parallel worlds – The global civil society as reinsurance of the deregulated and unstable markets
• Scenario V: Sustainable growth – The global regulation of the financial markets secures long-term growth
• Scenario VI: Deglobalisation - Slowdown of the global economy due to a new work culture

The scenarios have been assessed using the criteria of the world commission on environment and development regarding their sustainability.

The scenario report can be ordered by the ScMI AG for a nominal charge of 29,- Euro. It will be delivered in german.