ICEF Student Presents Report on ‘The Economy for Future Development’ to the Russian President
HSE ICEF student Alexander Lee delivered a presentation titled ‘The Economy for Future Development’ during the session ‘Youth 2030. The image of the future’ at the XIX World Festival of Youth and Students, which took place in Russia from October 14-22. The presentation was based on creative work and discussions held over the course of one week among a group of international students led by experts from ISSEK and Yuri Simachev, Director for Economic Policy. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, took part in the event.
Alexander Lee presented the key results to participants: ‘One of the main areas we discussed is that people are the center of the economy, but not in the traditional way as an element in production, but as a leading force that makes the economy more personalized. 42% of students at the panel discussion agreed that the main economic sector for the future would be personal modification, so we will see our skills and capabilities change thanks to bioengineering and perhaps even the implementation of a new education system. Digital transformation and rapid growth of the transport system will make the world seem more compact, and then we will adopt a new economic structure and see greater labor force mobility, with people working work across a wide range of fields over the course of their lives. Furthermore, more effective model of economic outsourcing, in which distance is no longer an obstacle, will develop. Summarizing the findings mentioned above, we are moving towards a decentralized personalized economy that is focused on people.’
During the session, representatives from various countries delivered presentations on several areas of development: future technologies, ecology, future aviation, new media, economy for future development, health, civic platform for development, future design, global politics, future science and education, future industries, global rail network, and the creation of a ‘future team’.
President Vladimir Putin said he hoped that festival participants will be able to implement their ‘great and ambitious plans’ and shared his thoughts on what must be taken into consideration while implementing these initiatives. He noted that they should remember that the plans developed need to be applicable in real life (apart from those initiatives that involve fundamental research). Secondly, the introduction of new technologies is impossible without educated people, and this does not only refer to ‘a set of interesting and important skills’, but also about creative thinking, the ability to communicate with others and to work in a team. Finally, he said that ‘whatever we do, we must not forget about the moral and ethical aspects of our work. Everything we do must benefit people – strengthen not destroy them’.
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