Bloomberg predicts the end of Belgium
Bloomberg released its predictions about the dangers the world might face in the next decade, from 2018 to 2028. The Bloomberg «pessimist’s Guide» doesn’t fear a nuclear war or massive terrorist attacks. However, the Trump’s selection for a second term, Putin’s retirement, the UK becoming a socialist State, and fake news killing Facebook are on the menu.
Scenario n°6 is particularly interesting for Belgium. Bloomberg predicted the end of Belgium as we know: “In the latest breakaway, Belgium splits into three parts: the French, the Flemish and Brussels, the capital of what little remains of the EU.”
Scenario 1: Trump is elected for a second term of presidency
Inspired by the success of tax reform, the President’s going to spend trillions on defense and infrastructure. The Mueller investigation will not establish anything that would indicate Trump in the «Russian case». By 2021, the President still manages to repeal Obamacare, but not replace it. In the health care system chaos begins. For the United States, a period of economic recession — a recession and a significant slowdown in economic growth. In this scenario, in 2024, according to Bloomberg, the presidential elections must win a well-known TV presenter-Democrat Jimmy Kimmel. After another 4 years, the two «political pillar» of the United States — the Republican and the Democratic party completely disintegrate, which would entail large-scale political crisis.
Scenario 2:«Fake news» kill Facebook
The U.S. midterms show that Facebook and other Big Tech firms are failing to stop the spread of misinformation. One poll, for example, shows that 30 percent of voters thought that Hillary Clinton was running for the Senate. 50% of traffic to Twitter will be submitted to the bots and «fake accounts», the trolls. People will no longer distinguish right from wrong and will not know whom to believe. By 2028, 50% of Russians will assume that Trump is President for life of USA thanks to the same «fake news».
Scenario 3: Bitcoin will replace the banking system
Because of the great vulnerability of banks to hacker attacks and break-ins, bitcoin will strength its position. By 2021 year, the cost of one bitcoin will reach $ 100,000. Bitcoin will go to Greece and several other countries in Africa. By 2028, the banking system as we know it today will cease to exist. The cost of bitcoin will continue to grow and will reach $ 1,000,000.
Scenario 4: North Korea tries to start a war, and Kim Jong UN dies
In 2019 Kim Jong UN dies of a heart attack. The new government will stop the nuclear program. The United States and China will establish friendly relations and the US «will close eyes» on the China/Taiwan dossier. But the problems in the East will not be less. Japan will develop nuclear weapons and become a full-fledged nuclear state by 2028.
Scenario 5: Jeremy Corbyn makes socialism great again
Brexit talks spiral out of control, Prime Minister Theresa May is ousted and a snap election brings Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to power. Negotiations get back on track.
orbyn borrows heavily and ramps up taxes to push through his socialist agenda. University education is free. Wealthy bankers flee London, and so do the taxes they were paying. Corbyn announces plans to turn some of their properties into low-income housing. The yield on U.K. 10-year government bonds hits 5 percent.
The next Prime Minister will be the labour MP Jeremy Corbyn. The UK will begin the path to socialism: free education, medicine, all kinds of reforms will only strengthen the leader, however, would significantly hit the budget that by 2028 could lead to a terrible default.
Scenario 6: The protests of pensioners collapse of Europe
French pensioners protest President Emmanuel Macron’s attempt to reform a generous retirement system, and Italian elections show a sharp split between generations. The plus-50 crowd goes with octogenarian Silvio Berlusconi, who wins by promising to preserve their nest eggs. Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece are experiencing again a financial crisis. Scotland becomes independent, Belgium falls into three parts. The unemployment rate among young people is 50%. From the old Europe, not a trace remains.
Scenario 7: China begins large-scale trade war
The most powerful typhoon in modern Chinese history makes landfall in Shanghai, causing widespread flooding and power outages. Pressure mounts on President Xi to use China’s economic weight—and his good relationship with President Trump—to get the U.S. to re-embrace the Paris Accords and cut emissions. By 2024, the planet enters an age of weather extremes, China sees that climate change is starting to dry up its network of rivers. Relations between Trump and Xi remain warm, but officials in Beijing start talking about forcing the U.S. to change its behavior on climate.
2025, China starts freezing out and imposing trade sanctions on countries that are lagging behind on CO2 targets—including the U.S.
2028: President Kimmel tries—and fails—to get Congress to rally behind a new commitment to cutting emissions, and loses the election as a result. The world sees its first climate-driven trade war as China imposes sanctions on the U.S., Australia and Russia.
Scenario 8: The age of Oil will end with the victory of electric vehicles
Experts say that the price for a barrel of oil by 2021 will drop to $ 20, it will be a «shock» to the economy of the US and Russia. Low demand for diesel and petrol cars will severely hit Japan and over the US. Workers in the oil factories of Russia are protesting.
Saudi Arabia falls into an economic depression and political instability spreads through the Middle East. President Vladimir Putin retires from politics and tries to govern through a proxy, former central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina. Oil falls to $10.
