NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Save the date to join Economist editors and 200 financiers, institutional investors, policymakers, academics, impact investors and philanthropists at the second iteration of Investing for Impact: Risk, return and the future of the world. Thursday, February 15th, 2018, New York City.

The discussion at this year’s conference will cover the ways in which the world is at a crossroads, and how the growing uncertainty is creating an increase in interest from investors.

Inequality is rising. Climate change is starting to make its presence felt, as the international effort
to fight it falters. Economic globalization, which has delivered huge increases in prosperity for many but not all, is under threat from nationalistic populism. There are good reasons to believe that the world will continue to prosper; yet, far more than in recent years, there are also good reasons to worry that things could take a serious turn for the worse.

Investors can see where the world is heading and how that changes the outlook for risk and return and thus how they should put their capital to work. This greater interest is leading to a growing recognition that investors can play a crucial role in determining the result of this battle of seismic economic, social, technological and geopolitical forces, investing in ways that help the world move in a positive direction, rather than decline, and make money as they do so.

As with the previous Economist summits on investment and impact, speakers and audience members will include leaders from the world’s premier financial institutions, wealthiest families, largest companies, innovative startups and most influential foundations. The conversation and debate will be challenging, cutting through the hype to focus on the real issues that will determine whether investing for impact remains niche, or becomes a revolutionary agent of global change.