Since the beginning, marriage has been civilization’s central social institution. However, its role in society has changed dramatically in recent generations. What are the implications? What can we expect to happen in the decades ahead? We’ll tell you.

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As discussed in prior issues, oil prices have risen dramatically in recent years as real demand growth has outstripped new supplies. Also, in commodities markets, geopolitical tensions have created an enormous “anxiety premium.” Consequently, there’s been a huge transfer of wealth from industrialized countries to oil-producing nations. Since the excess dollars can’t be eaten, driven, or worn, the oil profits have to be spent or invested. What threats and opportunities will the current petrodollar situation generate for managers, investors, and Americans in general? We’ll explain.

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For 31 years, starting in 1974, food prices steadily fell. Then, abruptly, over the past two years, food prices have risen sharply. What’s behind the recent price explosion? What’s ahead? Who will be hurt and who will benefit? We’ll provide the answers.

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For centuries, microorganisms have played an important role in the production of products ranging from yogurt to wine. But in the past decade or so, consumer products companies have been incorporating live bacteria into their products to give them new and valuable properties. What are the implications? What are the emerging threats and opportunities related to this trend? We’ll fill you in.

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More than 20 years ago, when the Trends editors began to follow the work of nanotech visionaries like Eric Drexler, most mainstream analysts dismissed nanotechnology as “science fiction.” In the interim, nanotech has become the darling of venture capital and one of the biggest targets of serious scientific research. Mass-produced nanomaterials employing nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes are becoming mainstream. However, true nanodevices are for the most part still meticulously built in laboratories one molecule at a time. That’s because the technology to quickly, cheaply, and reliably mass-produce nanodevices has not existed. But, as we’ll explain, this is all rapidly changing. What’s ahead? What are the implications? We’ll show you.

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In many ways, the automobile has not advanced much since the days of Henry Ford. But now, breakthroughs in materials science, nanotechnology, and information technology are intersecting the forces of globalization, higher energy prices, and changing consumer tastes. The result is a wholesale rethinking of automotive technology. What’s ahead? Who’ll benefit and who’ll suffer? What will this mean for you as an investor, manager, and consumer? Buckle up, sit back and we’ll give you a tour.

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The primary source of China’s rapid emergence as an economic world power has been its enormous labor force. Those laborers will soon enter their peak years of productivity. What will this mean for the world economy — and China in particular? And, what happens as the current generation ages and a dramatically smaller generation enters the work force? We’ll brief you on what to expect and how you can profit from it.

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