2026. What's to come?

It is that time of the year again. Instead of making promises, I will once more make predictions of what's to come in the year 2026. (Un)interestingly, I am not expecting drastic changes anywhere in the world. Even though now that I think of that prediction more carefully, I find myself thinking of any sudden surprises – even black swans – that could occur anyway, or of the definition of the word 'drastic'. For instance, the world is constantly full of all kinds of wars, conflicts and scuffles. Would an average man note the absence of one? Unlikely, unless he lived right in or next to one. Be that as it may, let's get into it with that preconception in mind.

Fake economic growth

The U.S. dollar lost 10 % of its value in 2025. With the change of Fed chairman in 2026, I forecast the lowering of interest rates by the most significant central bank on Earth. This will obviously boost the markets and create growth – but it won't last. This will but hasten the inflation and the downward spiraling of the dollar. There have even been rumors of a new stimulus check in 2026 being handed out.

The interesting part will be to see how this will affect the whole world. Even though it will not happen in 2026, I am still fairly certain that USD will not be the world reserve currency in the year 2040.

Peace in Ukraine

This was the one prediction where I failed the most in 2025. No matter the many attempts, the Russo-Ukrainian war is still not showing signs of finally ending. Still, there are positive signals in the air and constant negotiations are going on even as I write this blog post. I have decided to remain optimistic when it comes to this matter, and am still expecting the war to end rather soon.

Growth of artificial intelligence

I am unsure whether this can be called a prediction, but more like an unavoidable course which we are on. Even now, general AI is here. Even though it for now has not taken complete dominance over the job markets, it is but a question of when it will happen. The technology is here and will keep on advancing, there is no doubt in my mind about that. What remains to be seen is just how quickly do the companies and especially public sector react to this, and how will the job markets adjust, if at all. If there will be no more new positions for the ones replaced by AI, how will the system reform? That is also one of the questions I have no answers to.

Wealth transfer will keep on happening

Some call wealth transfer the transfer of wealth from the older generation to the younger generation – in this case that would be from baby boomers to millennials and gen X. I have seen and shall thus predict, however, that the wealth transfer is also something quite else. It is in fact the transfer of wealth from those not financially literate to those that are. I refuse to call it the transfer of wealth from the poor and the middle class to the wealthy because it is still possible for those people to acquire assets and wealth themselves, even if it does get harder with each passing day. In any case, this is not a new phenomenon, but something that will just keep on going in 2026.

All in all, it will be an interesting and a good year! I wish you all great fortune in the coming year in all your endeavors – no matter what they may be.