That pioneering spirit can be beneficial, of course, but when it’s driven by powerful forces such as the green transition, the AI revolution, and the new geopolitics, the effects can sometimes unexpectedly impact certain parts of society. So, what can we then expect more specifically from 2024 and the years to come?
We continue our journey through the seven trends that will affect us in the coming years:
- Hyperpolarization
- Time of Fear
- The Great Data Theft
- With your fingers in the cookie jar
- Time to share fairly
- The Call for Myths, Meaning, and Context
- Wonderment – the new black
Now it’s time for the fourth trend, “With your fingers in the cookie jar.” How will it affect us, and is this a new phenomenon or just the same thing we’ve experienced before in a different form?
At the end of the 19th century, as the dominance of companies began to wane, the state took over and began to establish colonies and take responsibility for infrastructure development, such as the construction of railways, electrification of society, and the construction of road networks, and later nuclear power plants. The state’s role expanded significantly, and it gained greater influence over societal development than just handling military matters. With the advancements of industrialism, new needs and priorities emerged that couldn’t be solely addressed by the market.
Today, we see a similar dynamic where there are needs and priorities that the market cannot fully address on its own. Political actors, such as the Christian Democrats in Sweden and the Biden administration in the USA, are proposing and implementing large-scale infrastructure projects and investments in green transition with state financing. This indicates a resurgence of the state’s role as an active player in the economy and societal development.
The increased state intervention can affect the gig economy in several ways. Firstly, it may lead to more and larger public contracts and projects, which can create more opportunities for gig workers in sectors ranging from construction, infrastructure to green sectors. However, the large projects may also entail increased regulation and requirements to ensure quality and safety in projects funded with public money. The effect of this is that while public funds will boost several sectors, the effect may be absent for many smaller actors who cannot afford to meet these requirements, which serve as the entry ticket to participate and reap the benefits of the large projects. Overall, the increased state activity can contribute to a reshaping of the gig economy, where some sectors grow rapidly while others may be left out due to stricter regulations.
Do you have more immediate needs, need to recruit, cover a parental leave, increase flexibility at peak times, bring in specialist skills or is it to carry out improvement projects connected to current or future needs?
Feel free to contact us and we’ll offer you a cup of coffee and listen to your thoughts.
BayInCo – Interim within finance, accounting & sustainability