type: economics
1. **2027 – Gold Idlis Reignite Urban Mining Craze**
– India’s newfound obsession with gold-plated idlis triggers a rush for recycled gold from e-waste, transforming urban mining industries. South Korea and Japan dominate the global gold market, while traditional mining takes a nosedive.
2. **2028 – Micro-Ads Boost Midwest Towns**
– Social media micro-advertising rejuvenates the Midwest, boosting local economies and returning focus to community-driven markets and small-town charm.
3. **2029 – Coldplay Concert Creates Pop-Up Economies**
– A viral Coldplay concert moment leads to the rise of spontaneous markets near event venues, shaking up traditional shopping malls and impacting local tax revenue.
4. **2030 – Lebanon, Oregon Goes Green with Solar**
– Lebanon, Oregon, embraces renewable energy with town-wide solar panel installations, becoming a model for sustainable development and sparking a solar stock boom.
5. **2031 – “What’s the Buzz?” Revolutionizes Retraining**
– Global corporations revamp retraining programs to focus on creative entrepreneurship and digital skills, boosting productivity and making ongoing retraining the new normal.