 |
| [PHOTO: 401(K) 2012/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0] |
In a poll of more than 1,000 business leaders in major
global economies, FTI Consulting found that 77% of respondents are optimistic
about significant global economic growth in 2013. This compares with 45%
optimism expressed in a similar poll conducted in January 2012. The optimism is
fairly evenly spread across the regions: 76% in Europe, 78% in North America
and 75% in Asia.
With business leaders feeling more secure about global
economic prospects for 2013, executives are anticipating some growth for their
own businesses. 62% of respondents to the poll expect increasing
growth and prosperity for their own organisations: 48% in Europe, 71% in North
America and 61% in Asia. Furthermore, 61% expect growth of over 2% in the
coming year, while 10% are expecting growth of 10% or more.
The research also found there still is appetite
for acquisitions, with 42% of respondents saying they will make an acquisition
in their own region and 37% outside their own region. Innovation will be a key
theme for 2013, with 57% of respondents planning to invest in innovation to
combat low growth in 2013. The focus on innovation is most pronounced in
Europe: 61% compared with 53% in North America and 49% in Asia.
The general feeling that the economy has started to turn the
corner is further demonstrated by a surprisingly positive attitude towards the
banking sector. 89% of global business leaders believe the banking sector in
their home country has a positive reputation, and 85% feel the banking sector
globally is in a good state. Nearly five years after the collapse of Lehman
Brothers, 70% of respondents are confident there is a strong enough global
regulatory framework in place to prevent the risk of another banking crisis.
When asked about threats to growth, 58% of respondents
remain concerned about ongoing problems in the Eurozone, with a further 49%
concerned about the negative trickle-down effect from the ongoing fiscal
problems in the United States, 48% concerned about the ongoing credit crisis
and 43% concerned about slowing growth in China. The BRICS (Brazil, Russia,
India, China and South Africa) appear to provide some salvation to these risks
and threats, with 58% of global business leaders polled believing the biggest
opportunities in 2013 are in these countries.
"Having spent the past five years grappling with the
global banking crisis, the Eurozone crisis and recession, businesses appear to
be ready to move forward," said Mark Malloch-Brown, EMEA Chairman at FTI Consulting.
He added, "While there still is concern about ongoing
problems in the Eurozone and the trickle-down effect from the inevitable
spending cuts in the United States, we are anticipating a lighter mood at Davos
this year compared with 2012, when we were facing a possible Armageddon
following a collapse in the Eurozone. Businesses seem to have the measure of
potential threats, are looking to exploit opportunities in emerging markets and
feel positively about the new leadership in China."