Thanks Amy for your post. 2018 marks the year of many exciting & challenging (to governments and banks) systems and technologies.

I was surprised you didn’t mention #blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Will blockchain finally be recognised?

Those who oppose blockchain and decentralization may find themselves losing market share to their competitors. Even those objecting to bitcoin are planning their own crypto coin.

About China, you’re right. They have signalled the end of being content to be quietly passive by Xi announcing his lifetime rule (control) of China. He has policies which will take many years to bear fruit. We shall learn of them in future years to come for sure. Some we won’t like perhaps, like expansion in the South China Seas.

The shift of power. Perhaps that’s why President Trump is pressing on with his trade tarrifs. It’s a futile attempt to stop or delay the shift of power. Economically and politically. From the West to the East.

Trade tarrifs or protection may work in the short term but may have negative consequences.

Smart companies could find a way to work around that. Or protest against the tariff. We live in a global network. Trying to cut another country off from us will hit back in other ways. Why even consider it? Let full market mechanism of demand/supply operate.