Investment Rating - The report indicates a positive outlook for infrastructure investment, with 70% of respondents expecting an increase in fundraising and investment activities over the next 24 months, and 30% anticipating a substantial increase [3][10]. Core Insights - The infrastructure asset class has experienced significant growth, with a compound annual growth rate in assets under management averaging 16% over the past decade, reaching over USD 1.1 trillion [2][6]. - The global infrastructure gap is estimated at USD 15 trillion through 2040, necessitating increased private financing to bridge this gap [2][18]. - Key drivers for future investment include the energy transition, digitalisation, and demographic changes, with 54% of respondents identifying energy transition as a primary investment catalyst [3][24]. Summary by Sections Part 1: Infrastructure: Into the Mainstream - Infrastructure has become one of the fastest-growing asset classes, with M&A activity increasing from 551 deals valued at USD 148.5 billion in 2015 to 2,105 deals worth USD 658.4 billion by 2022, representing increases of 282% in volume and 343% in value [7][6]. Part 2: Key Driver 1: The Road to Energy Transition - The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that annual investments in renewable energy need to triple to around USD 4.5 trillion by 2030 to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 [25][26]. - Solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind are expected to attract the most investment, with 61% and 58% of respondents indicating these technologies as priorities [27][28]. Part 3: Key Driver 2: Digital Watch - Digitalisation is viewed as a primary investment driver by 36% of respondents, particularly in Europe, where it surpasses the energy transition in importance [37][38]. - Data centre investments reached USD 22 billion in the first five months of 2024, indicating strong growth in this sector driven by cloud computing and AI [40][41]. Part 4: Regions in the Spotlight - The Middle East is identified as the most attractive region for infrastructure investment, with 60% of respondents viewing it as highly attractive due to political stability and ambitious development plans [3][10]. - North America and Europe are expected to see the greatest investment in digital infrastructure, with 62% and 61% of respondents respectively indicating this trend [38][42]. Part 5: The Healthcare and Social Deficit - The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant deficits in healthcare and social infrastructure, prompting 35% of respondents to expect increased investment in these sectors, particularly in the Asia Pacific region [3][10]. Part 6: The Sustainability Imperative - ESG considerations are becoming increasingly significant, with 47% of respondents expecting the importance of ESG to grow significantly in the next two years, particularly in Africa and APAC [3][10]. Part 7: A Journey to the Core - Investors are increasingly focusing on core infrastructure assets for their stability and predictable cash flows, with 66% planning to increase exposure to core-only assets [3][10]. Part 8: Risky Business - Geopolitical risks remain a top concern for infrastructure investors, with 35% citing these as the biggest potential impediment to investment [3][10]. Part 9: Tackling a Risky Business - Investors are employing proactive asset monitoring and management strategies to mitigate risks, with at least two-thirds of respondents relying on these methods [3][10]. Part 10: Conclusion: Where Do We Go From Here? - The report concludes with cautious optimism for a continued rebound in infrastructure investment, supported by stabilising interest rates and the pressing need for renewable energy infrastructure [5][10].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The integration of AI in critical infrastructure (CI) presents both opportunities and risks, necessitating careful management and strategic implementation [3][4][27] - Resource disparities among CI providers significantly affect AI adoption and risk management capabilities, highlighting the need for support programs for less resourced entities [5][6][39] - The ambiguity in defining AI risk management responsibilities within corporate structures complicates the effective governance of AI systems [7][50] Summary by Sections Executive Summary - AI capabilities are improving, prompting CI operators to integrate AI systems, which can enhance operations and cyber threat detection while introducing new vulnerabilities [3] - The executive order from the previous year mandates assessments of AI-related risks in critical infrastructure sectors [3] Background - The report discusses the current and potential future use of AI technologies in various CI sectors, emphasizing the need for clarity on AI system types being utilized [15][19] Risks, Opportunities, and Barriers - AI risks are categorized into malicious use and system vulnerabilities, with concerns about AI enabling new attack vectors for cyber threats [28][30] - Opportunities for AI adoption include improved operational efficiency and enhanced threat detection capabilities [33] - Barriers to adoption include data privacy concerns, regulatory compliance challenges, and the need for skilled personnel [35][37] Observations - Disparities in resources between large and small CI providers impact AI adoption and cybersecurity resilience [39][40] - The unclear boundary between AI and cybersecurity complicates risk management and incident reporting [46] Recommendations - Cross-cutting recommendations emphasize the importance of information sharing and developing a skilled workforce to support AI integration in CI [60][64] - Government actors are encouraged to harmonize regulations and tailor guidance for specific sectors to facilitate AI adoption [67][69] - CI sectors should develop best practices and expand mutual assistance initiatives to support smaller providers [72][73] - Individual organizations are advised to integrate AI risk management into existing frameworks and designate clear ownership of AI risks [75][76]

Investment Rating - The report emphasizes a customer-centric strategy as crucial for growth in the retail financial institutions sector, indicating a positive outlook for companies that effectively implement such strategies. Core Insights - Financial institutions must prioritize understanding customer needs and preferences to drive growth, as 71% of executives believe this is critical, yet 54% admit to lacking sufficient customer insights [4][11][10] - The report identifies key drivers for enhancing customer relationships, including personalization, accessibility, convenience, and transparency, which are essential for building loyalty and achieving sustainable growth [4][13][29] - A four-pronged framework is proposed for implementing customer-centric strategies, focusing on advanced technologies like generative AI to better understand and meet customer needs [4][30][33] Summary by Sections Understanding Customers - Financial institutions recognize the importance of customer-centric strategies but often struggle with execution due to insufficient insights into customer needs and pain points [5][10] - Key findings from surveys indicate that customers value clear communication, quality service, and personalized experiences, which are often lacking in current offerings [6][9][11] Executive Priorities - A significant portion of executives (60%) do not engage enough with employees and customers to understand the impact of boardroom decisions on customer experiences [4][20] - The report highlights that 51% of executives find their goals misaligned with customer needs, indicating a critical challenge in strategy execution [17][19] Customer-Centric Strategy Framework - The proposed framework includes understanding customer archetypes, defining jobs to be done, optimizing interactions, and establishing core principles to guide organizational behavior [31][32] - Emphasizing the use of advanced technologies, particularly generative AI, is essential for enhancing customer engagement and operational efficiency [33][34] Technology and Data Utilization - The report stresses the need for financial institutions to leverage data effectively, with 87% of executives acknowledging a lack of centralized customer views [26][27] - Generative AI is highlighted as a transformative tool for personalizing services and improving content management, with 73% of executives believing it will enhance service offerings [34][37] Conclusion - The report concludes that financial institutions must bridge the gap between their strategies and customer expectations by embracing data-driven insights and advanced technologies to foster deeper relationships and drive growth [47][48]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry. Core Insights - The report emphasizes the potential of using mass timber from Colorado wildfire thinnings to create low-carbon buildings, which can benefit local forests, communities, and the global climate [9][10][30]. Summary by Sections Executive Summary - Colorado's forests face challenges due to climate change, overstocking from fire suppression, and increased population in wildland-urban interfaces, leading to severe wildfire risks [9][11]. - Forest thinning can enhance resilience against wildfires and protect water supplies, but it is costly, potentially costing taxpayers billions [9][10]. Colorado Forests' Challenging Future - Historical fire suppression has led to overstocked forests, increasing the likelihood of high-intensity wildfires [11][12]. - Nearly 1 million properties in Colorado are at risk of wildfire damage over the next 30 years, with the wildland-urban interface expected to double by 2040 [12][13]. Managing Forests, Managing Fire - Prescribed burns and mechanical thinning are effective strategies to reduce wildfire risks by lowering fuel loads [20][21]. - Thinning operations can yield marketable timber, but most harvested trees are small and have low market value, making it difficult to offset treatment costs [27][28]. "Eating the Problem" with Wood Products - A lack of robust markets for wood from forest management leads to insufficient management, while strong markets could support ecological sustainability and wildfire mitigation [28][29]. - Mass timber, a high-performance engineered wood product, can utilize small-diameter trees and has a lower embodied carbon footprint compared to traditional materials [29][30]. Jump-Starting Colorado's Resilient Local Forest Economies - Developing local forest economies can provide funding for wildfire mitigation treatments and create sustainable building practices [37][38]. - Public support for forest thinning is mixed, with some opposition that can delay management efforts [40][41]. Call to Action - Various stakeholders, including state officials and the general public, are encouraged to support forest management and local wood products [48][49]. Additional Information - The Colorado Mass Timber Coalition aims to enhance the forest and construction value chain to promote resilient local economies [50].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the healthcare industry or AI applications within it. Core Insights - Nurses express cautious enthusiasm about AI in healthcare, emphasizing the need to maintain high-quality care while integrating AI tools [2][7][24] - A national survey of 7,200 nurses reveals a significant interest in incorporating AI into their work, with 64% of respondents supporting more AI tools [4][7] - Concerns about AI include trust in accuracy, lack of human interaction, and insufficient knowledge on using AI technologies [13][15] Summary by Sections Survey Overview - The survey conducted by McKinsey and the American Nurses Foundation aimed to evaluate nurses' perceptions of AI, their familiarity with it, and the perceived risks and opportunities [4][6] Nurses' Perspectives on AI - 42% of nurses feel hopeful that AI will improve quality, while 23% express discomfort regarding its implications for patient care [10][11] - 61% of nurses rank trust in accuracy as their top concern regarding AI [13] Interest in AI Tools - 64% of surveyed nurses want more AI tools in their work, with higher interest among those aged 30 to 39 (71%) [7][9] - AI could potentially free up approximately 20% of a nurse's shift through technology [7] Addressing Concerns - To alleviate concerns, 73% of nurses suggest involving nursing input in AI tool design, while 69% want evidence of AI's effectiveness on quality and patient safety [15][17] - Enhanced training and education on AI usage is also a priority for 64% of respondents [17] Optimism and Engagement - Overall, nurses are cautiously optimistic about AI's potential to alleviate workloads and improve patient care [18][24] - The report emphasizes the importance of nurse engagement in the development and implementation of AI tools to ensure high-quality patient care remains a priority [24]

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry [1] Core Insights - The report discusses various factors affecting the industry, including market trends and competitive dynamics [1] - It highlights the importance of innovation and technology adoption as key drivers for growth [1] - The analysis indicates potential opportunities for investment in emerging markets and sectors [1] Summary by Sections - **Market Overview**: The industry is experiencing significant changes due to technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences [1] - **Competitive Landscape**: Key players are focusing on strategic partnerships and mergers to enhance their market position [1] - **Growth Drivers**: Factors such as increased demand for sustainable solutions and digital transformation are identified as primary growth drivers [1] - **Investment Opportunities**: The report suggests that sectors related to renewable energy and digital services present promising investment opportunities [1]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry under review. Core Insights - Photovoltaic-powered groundwater pumping presents a transformative solution for water services in underserved areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, but without proper regulation, it risks overexploiting groundwater resources, threatening groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) [4][41] - The study indicates that 92% of Sub-Saharan Africa's GDEs are at risk of overexploitation if photovoltaic water pumping is implemented without adequate controls, particularly in Southern and Eastern Africa [4][41] - Regions like southern Nigeria and South Sudan are identified as priorities for potential photovoltaic water pumping system investments due to their higher groundwater development needs and lower risks to GDEs [4][41] Summary by Sections Introduction - Access to electricity and clean water are critical development priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 600 million people lack electricity and 400 million lack safely managed drinking water [8] - The advancement of photovoltaic technologies has lowered costs, enabling potential expansion of solar pumping for irrigation [8] Data - The study utilizes various datasets, including global horizontal irradiance, static water level, aquifer transmissivity, groundwater storage, population density, and renewable groundwater resources to assess risks to GDEs [15][19] Methodology - The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is employed to evaluate the risk of overexploitation of GDEs due to uncontrolled access to groundwater through photovoltaic pumping [19][21] Results - The analysis reveals that 92% of GDEs are at risk of overexploitation, with significant risks identified in western South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Niger, and Somalia [27][30] - The findings highlight the need for targeted investments and close monitoring in regions with high risks to GDEs, such as Namibia and South Africa, while prioritizing areas with high groundwater development needs and lower risks [31][41] Policy Implications - The report emphasizes the importance of sustainable groundwater management and the need for enforceable policies to protect GDEs from the adverse effects of photovoltaic water pumping [40][41] - It suggests that better mapping and monitoring of GDEs are essential for understanding their value and ensuring their protection [40][41] Conclusion - The study underscores the necessity for careful planning and regulation in the deployment of photovoltaic water pumping systems to mitigate risks to GDEs while addressing the urgent need for water access in Sub-Saharan Africa [41][42]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry discussed Core Insights - The inclusion of usufruct rights in household wealth estimates significantly impacts wealth distribution, particularly benefiting younger households and reducing wealth concentration indices by approximately 1 percentage point [2][35] Summary by Sections 1. Introduction - Household wealth is a crucial indicator of economic well-being and stability, providing insights beyond income alone [8][9] - Wealth data is essential for assessing disparities in asset ownership and informing policy initiatives aimed at reducing inequality [9][10] 2. General Reflections on Use Rights - Traditional wealth estimates often overlook partial rights like usufruct, leading to a distorted understanding of wealth distribution [11][12] - Usufruct allows individuals to use and enjoy property owned by others, which should be included in wealth assessments [14][15] 3. The Data - The report utilizes data from the Bank of Italy's Survey of Household Income and Wealth (SHIW), which has been conducted since the 1960s [18] - The share of households living in usufruct is relatively stable, averaging around 3 percent over the years [20] 4. Taking Account of Use Rights in Italy - Adjusting wealth estimates to include usufruct rights leads to an increase in net wealth values, particularly for younger households [28] - The Gini index shows a reduction in wealth concentration, indicating a more equitable distribution of wealth [29][30] 5. Free Residential Houses in HFCS Data - The report highlights the prevalence of free residential houses in various countries, with implications for wealth inequality [31][32] 6. Conclusions - The findings emphasize the importance of including usufruct in wealth estimates, as it significantly affects wealth distribution and concentration indices [35][36] - The analysis suggests that similar studies in countries with more widespread use rights could yield even greater impacts on wealth estimates [37]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a strong positive impact of personal initiative training on entrepreneurial success, suggesting a favorable investment outlook for programs that incorporate such training methodologies [10][48]. Core Insights - Personal initiative training in Togo resulted in an average increase of $91 in monthly profits after seven years, which is a 52% increase over the control mean [10][33]. - The training had a lasting impact on men, with their profits increasing by $148 after seven years, while the impact for women diminished to $39, indicating a significant gender disparity in long-term outcomes [11][35]. - The study highlights that traditional business training did not yield statistically significant long-term impacts, contrasting sharply with the sustained benefits of personal initiative training [10][48]. Summary by Sections Introduction - The report discusses the importance of evaluating the long-term impacts of business training programs, particularly in developing countries, where short-term evaluations are common [7][8]. Experimental Design and Personal Initiative Training - The study involved 1,500 small business entrepreneurs in Togo, with a focus on those operating outside agriculture and not formally registered [12][13]. - The personal initiative training program aimed to foster a proactive entrepreneurial mindset, contrasting with traditional business training that focused on standard business practices [17][18]. Long-Term Follow-up Impacts - The survival rate of businesses was high, with 88% in the control group and 91% in the personal initiative training group still operational after seven years [30][31]. - The report shows that the personal initiative training group experienced significant increases in profits and sales, with a cumulative gain of over $6,900 over 7.5 years, representing a return of over 900% on the training cost [33][48]. Gender Heterogeneity in Treatment Impacts - Initial impacts of personal initiative training were similar for both men and women, but long-term effects diverged significantly, with men experiencing sustained growth while women's profits converged back towards the control group [34][41]. - The report suggests that women may face industry-specific constraints and redirect their entrepreneurial efforts towards household needs, limiting their long-term business growth [42][47]. Discussion and Conclusions - The findings indicate that personal initiative training is particularly effective for men, suggesting a need for complementary interventions for women to enhance their long-term business outcomes [49].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report highlights a shift in tax policy reforms across OECD countries, indicating a trend towards increasing tax rates and broadening tax bases in response to economic challenges and the need for additional revenues [13][15][16] - Policymakers are balancing the need for increased domestic resources with the necessity of providing tax relief to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis affecting households and businesses [14][19] - The trend of decreasing corporate income tax (CIT) rates has halted, with more jurisdictions implementing rate increases for the first time since 2015, reflecting a need for additional revenues and equity within the tax system [16][63] - Significant progress has been made towards implementing the Global Minimum Tax (GMT), with 60 jurisdictions taking steps towards its introduction [16] Summary by Sections Macroeconomic Background - Global GDP growth was estimated at 3.1% in 2023, with many economies affected by high inflation and geopolitical tensions [23] - The unemployment rate in OECD countries was 4.9% at the end of 2023, indicating a stable labor market despite economic challenges [30] - Public debt rose to 113% of GDP for the OECD as a whole in 2023, with government deficits increasing again due to the energy crisis [36] Tax Revenue Context - The average tax-to-GDP ratio across OECD countries decreased by 0.15 percentage points to 34.0% in 2022, with significant variations in tax revenue sources [43][45] - High-income countries saw a rise in corporate income tax revenues driven by heightened profits, particularly in the energy sector [43] Tax Policy Reforms - The report documents tax reforms introduced or announced in 2023 across 90 jurisdictions, showing a trend towards increasing rates and broadening bases [13][59] - Personal income tax (PIT) reforms focused on supporting low- and middle-income households, while social security contributions (SSCs) have seen increases in many jurisdictions [17][66] - VAT relief measures on energy products are slowing, with some jurisdictions increasing their standard VAT rates [19][67]