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Why the Post-Coronavirus World will Revolutionize Tech & Society
“Nana korobi ya oki” in Japanese translates (literally) to seven falls, eight getting up. It seems fitting for the world right now.
The coronavirus is teaching us a very hard lesson. Our systems — our technologies — our way of life — they all lack resiliency.
Globalization
Globalization had tremendous benefits over the past decades for middle and upper-class households in wealthy countries that could afford a comfortable style of life — but in the face of a rapidly spreading pandemic the shortcomings of globalization have become painfully obvious:
- China used to make 80% of masks globally and asides from some small but generous shipments, the country is generally not exporting personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Approximately 80% of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used as inputs in the production process of OTC prescription drugs are made in China or India
- With close to 40 million flights globally in 2019, modern aviation industry allows people infected with diseases to travel the globe in hours, increasing the odds that epidemics escalate rapidly into potential pandemics
But it’s much more than just globalization. A lack of resilience can be found in almost every aspect of modern society.
Energy/Environment
- Our entire global economy is…
