Chief Economists Forecast Global Economy Slowdown

The World Economic Forum's Chief Economists' Outlook, published January 25, 2026, reports 53% of surveyed chief economists expect the world economy to slow in 2026 while 19% foresee stronger growth. The survey cites high public and private debt, inflated asset prices, geopolitical tensions, and trade fragmentation as main risks, and notes AI-driven productivity gains will be uneven across countries and firms.
Key Points
- 1Report finds 53% of chief economists expect global economic slowdown in 2026
- 2Highlights rising risks from high public and private debt, inflated asset prices, and geopolitical tensions
- 3Signals uneven AI-driven productivity gains favor advanced economies and large firms, widening disparities
Scoring Rationale
Official WEF survey and broad global scope increase impact, while moderate novelty and limited actionable detail reduce urgency.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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