Introducing... Emergent Scale
Innovation, labour markets, economic growth, and the next 25 years.
“Questions have been the signposts of my life's path.”
That was the opening line of my personal statement as part of my application packet for the Public Policy master’s I recently completed. 18 months later – 12 months of study and 6 months of research consolidation – I have some answers, some hypotheses, and some more questions.
At the time of my application, my key interest was how to “unlock policy for prosperity” – again, verbatim from my personal statement – in developing economies, aka Global Majority Countries (GMCs for the purposes of this newsletter). It is important to note that GMCs, aka the Global South or whichever moniker you, your team, or organisation uses (I’m not (yet) as fussed about the labels as some of my dearest friends are), make up 88% of the world’s population, i.e. 6 billion people.
My interest has not changed, and it means I am fixated on scale. As a concept, as a delivery methodology, as a strategy, as a mindset. I believe you have to be if solving for that number of people is on your mind.
I blame Lagos. Southwest Nigeria. Not a large city by land mass, but one with an outsized impact in many ways - economically, politically, demographically, and culturally. I was born, raised, lived, and worked in Lagos for most of the last three decades. And in that beautiful city, inequality is stark and very much in your face every day.
One interest has changed, or should I say ‘awakened’, for me, though: Given the world’s political, geographic, economic, and historical precedents, circumstances, and conditions, a prosperous [insert city/country name] is not likely to happen by chance. I am increasingly convinced that GMCs need bold, long-term strategies (and delivery, but more on that later) to attain the futures their people desire. As such, I have become fixated on futures.
Enter, Emergent Scale.
This newsletter will focus on:
Emerging technologies: For a variety of reasons, not least of which is market-creation opportunities, I believe this is the key to unlocking growth.
Labour markets and livelihoods: Unemployment is a huuuuge focus on my mind. An egg to the chicken of economic growth.
Policymaking: Strategies for the future - how can we solve for the two things above?
When I say futures, I don’t mean general postulations about the future. For example, the BBC’s “Tomorrow’s Girls” predictions in the 1960s (see below). No, I’m talking about leaping frogs and shooting celestial bodies. Yes, one buzzword for another two. Even better.
Source: Screenshot from BBC Archive YouTube page (here)
Why this newsletter format? Well, three main reasons - to:
Give my hypotheses some coherence.
Get feedback.
Build an ideological and practical community. It would be amazing to learn from and generate ideas with people who share mutual interests.
On to scale! There's also a Substack. Join me.
Ps: While this year has taught me that there are many similarities across GMCs, I have the most to offer and passion for African countries. Even in this, I am (very) aware that a continent comprising 54 countries is vast and varied. However, I firmly believe there is much to defend and uphold in regional thinking and problem-solving, and I will clarify as necessary. Thoughts and comments are always welcome on this.