The OECD has produced a prognosis of expected economic growth up to 2060 based on current developments: “Looking to 2060: Long-term growth prospects for the world“.
The development does put education and training to the core of these developments, as the emerging economies that are seen to have a sharp growth rate, are dependent on a well educated work force, whereas the developed countries are facing an aging population that decreases the available work force. The report foresees that China will become the largest economy of the world in just a few years, in 2016. Along with India as an emerging economy also likely to surpass the US in the long run, this would dramatically shift the economic power balance in the world. Question becomes – what would this mean for higher education?
The whole policy paper can be downloaded here (pdf).