Whether you’re talking about books, music, movies, or even clothes, until recently economics dictated that the big money was made off a few big hits. But, as the Trends editors predicted more than a decade ago, the economics of e-Commerce is revolutionizing that old model. Today, the big money is made by having a virtually infinite variety of products appealing to nearly every taste. While the best-sellers are often discounted to the point that they become “loss leaders,” margins on low-volume specialty products remain robust. What will that mean for strategies and business models going forward? We’ll explain.

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Over the past decade, companies have been pressured into spending on so-called corporate social responsibility efforts. But study after study has been unable to quantify the benefits to the company. More importantly, it can be argued that the same funds distributed to employees or shareholders could be put to work more efficiently through private charities. Nevertheless, corporate social responsibility continues to be advocated by many interest groups. How will this play out in the coming decade? We’ll explain.

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Until a few years ago, the young and hip were almost inevitably drawn to major urban areas. But now, that’s beginning to change. The Internet and other lifestyle-enhancing technologies are permitting today’s young people to access the mainstream while physically staying in less stressful, lower-cost venues. We’ll discuss the opportunities this presents.

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If the Statue of Liberty were erected today, that would be the message. At the same time the young are being pushed out of traditional urban centers, there is an active competition aimed at attracting the mature and affluent. We’ll take a look at how retiring Baby Boomers can boost local economies and which communities offer the best opportunities for active seniors.

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Thirty years ago, planners around the world were panicking because of the population explosion. Today, the planet is facing a population implosion. Over the next 25 years, the populations of nearly every country in the world will get older and — in most cases — smaller. Ill-conceived social reengineering programs, like China’s “one child policy,” are creating imbalances that carry enormous risks. What can we expect? What should we do as managers to make the best of it? We’ll show you.

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It’s becoming increasingly obvious that our system for protecting intellectual property is broken. Rather than encouraging innovation, our patent system now often gets in the way. What are the implications of the current situation? How is the crisis likely to play itself out? We’ll provide answers.

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