THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IN CRISIS
"The global economy is not simply slowing, it is being reordered by conflict, supply-chain stress, energy insecurity, and a more uneven path to technological transformation."
World Economic Forum, Chief Economists’ Outlook (May 2026)
1. How do you feel when you read news about the global economy? Does it affect your spending habits?
2. What are the main products or resources that your country imports? How would a sudden shortage affect your life?
3. The text mentions that a regional conflict turned into a 'global shock.' How can events in one part of the world affect prices in another country?
4. Who suffers the most when energy and food prices rise sharply? What can governments do to protect these people?
5. If inflation is high, is it better to save money, invest it, or spend it quickly? Why?
6. What makes a country attractive to multinational corporations?
7. Will AI solve productivity problems or create unemployment?
8. How can households build economic resilience?
Economic Vocabulary
1. volatility – instability or rapid change
2. bear the brunt – suffer the greatest impact.
3. stagflation – slow growth with high inflation.
4. resilience – ability to recover from shocks.
5. disruption – interruption to normal operations.
6. temper – reduce or moderate.
Conversation Questions
1. How can small countries compete for foreign investment?
2. How should citizens adapt to inflation?
3. Should governments prioritize inflation or growth during stagflation?
4. Will global economic reordering reduce or increase inequality?
Economic Writing Task
1. Write a 250–300 word essay explaining why multinational corporations are
restructuring global operations using at least three vocabulary words.
2. Alternative Essay: Discuss the consequences of disrupted trade routes and long-term solutions.
