As we strive to make products increasingly durable, lightweight, and environmentally friendly, plastics are becoming an increasingly important part of our lives. What are the implications? We’ll tell you.

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The hydrogen economy, like fusion power and space tourism, always seems to be “just around the corner,” but it never seems to get here. The Trends editors started studying hydrogen fuel economics during the energy crisis of the 1970s, and we’ve monitored it ever since. With the increasing geopolitical risk associated with oil and growing concerns over carbon emissions, an economy relying on hydrogen to replace fossil fuels looks ideal at first blush. So, why isn’t it here yet? What are the barriers to implementation? And, when can we realistically expect to see results? We’ll explain.

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As a Trends subscriber, you’re aware of the growing labor shortage as well as the challenges posed by our runaway tort system. However, you may not yet appreciate the enormous problems created at the intersection of these two trends. Today, employers not only face the usual problems that arise when they hire the wrong person; they often face even bigger problems when they try to jettison these “mis-hires.” At that point, many employers find themselves faced with high legal costs, regardless of whether they litigate or settle. What does this mean to you as an employee, manager, or business owner? What can you do to make the best of the current reality? Find out where this trend is ending in the long run.

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Today, as “long-tail economics” shapes more and more online businesses, profitability increasingly depends on sophisticated “recommendation engines” that analyze a customer’s purchasing history and identify products or services that complement their implied lifestyles. What issues and opportunities associated with these recommendation tools should you be aware of? What will these tools mean to you as a manager, investor, and consumer in the coming years? We’ll fill you in on the details.

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While fewer and fewer applications come in shrink-wrapped packages, the business model created by Microsoft and its peers in the 1970s remains dominant. Nevertheless, there are clear signs that cracks are appearing in the foundation of that business model. Google is just one of the firms poised to reinvent the industry. What will this mean for you? We’ll explain.

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Cash was one of mankind’s earliest inventions, dating back to late pre-history. By the end of the Renaissance, it had almost totally replaced barter as a medium of exchange. However, since checks became mainstream in the late 19th century, cash has been slowly declining in its share of transaction value. As a result, in the early 21st century, cash is playing a small and ever-shrinking role in commerce worldwide. What are the reasons behind this trend? What are the implications? We’ll explain.

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Technology, demography, and attitudes are converging to make co-production of personalized products a winning business model for the coming decade. What are the big threats and risks for investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals? We’ll show you.

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