Special guest renowned Canadian political scientist Janice Stein joins us on the program today. Janice is an international relations expert and founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Janice sits down with host Pamela Ritchie to discuss the geopolitical themes and issues moving the markets this past year and what could influence our world economies in 2024. Janice says we are in an era of geoeconomics. Geopolitics is now driving the global economy and it will drive trade and continue to accelerate and drive markets. Janice highlights the four big countries influencing our economies today - the US, China, Russia and India. Janice believes this is the century of US power, but she adds, what China has accomplished in the last 20 years, no other society has done. She says India is one of the largest countries, but its population is very young. Still, there is a lot of potential for growth in India. Russia is a declining economy, but is the biggest oil and gas export. Janice highlights many other geopolitical issues including the conflict in the Middle East. She says despite the brutal war, people are thinking about the future and what sorts of governance systems will emerge from these decisions.

Recorded on December 5, 2023.

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