Vision 2030: A Stocktake

The report examines how digitalization, AI, and blockchain are disrupting the global financial system. It highlights the critical need for financial literacy to accompany increased financial inclusion, the transition toward cashless societies and digital currencies, and the necessity of global regulatory coordination to manage cybersecurity risks and ensure operational resilience.

• Financial inclusion requires more than just access to accounts; financial literacy is a prerequisite for informed decision-making. While 1.2 billion adults obtained accounts between 2011 and 2017, a survey indicates that two thirds of the global population remain financially illiterate.
• Investing in sustainable funds can be significantly more effective for reducing an individual's carbon footprint than combined lifestyle changes like eating less meat and reducing air travel. Data from the MSCI ACWI ESG index showed returns of 81% between September 2007 and 2018, compared to 70% for the standard MSCI ACWI index.
• China has significantly enhanced financial inclusion through digital infrastructure, which supplemented a previous lack of traditional financial infrastructure. The World Payments Report 2018 predicts that China's non-cash transaction volumes will surpass those of the US by 2021.
• Cryptocurrencies are deemed unsuitable as a primary means of exchange due to their inelastic supply, which causes value fluctuations. However, blockchain technology offers benefits including disintermediation, transparency, and the use of smart contracts to automate processes.
• Sweden is experiencing a rapid decline in cash usage, with cash in circulation dropping to 1% of GDP. In response, the Riksbank is investigating the 'e-krona', a central bank digital currency that would provide a digital alternative to cash.
• Technological advances in AI, blockchain, and cloud computing are restructuring the financial sector. AI enables alternative credit scoring for those without traditional credit history, potentially expanding the US market to 45 million people and addressing a global $5.2 trillion unmet financing need for small businesses.
• There is a critical need for global regulatory coordination to address cybersecurity and the rise of new financial players. Economic losses from cyber crime were predicted to reach $3 trillion by 2020, and fragmented regulatory approaches undermine the effectiveness of institutional defenses.

APA

World Economic Forum (2019). Vision 2030: A Stocktake. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GFC_Vision_2030_A_Stocktake_Report.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Vision 2030: A Stocktake. 2019. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GFC_Vision_2030_A_Stocktake_Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Vision 2030: A Stocktake |date=November 2019 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GFC_Vision_2030_A_Stocktake_Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2019vision, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Vision 2030: A Stocktake}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GFC_Vision_2030_A_Stocktake_Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }