Broad Trends Analysis

The analysis of broad social, economic, demographic and cultural trends is an extremely diverse subject to be explored, and covers metamorphoses in virtually every sphere of life. This study has concentrated on broad changes in demographics, the workplace, the economy and technology.

The demographic study brought some important facts into the limelight. The population of the United States not only is growing. It comprises many new ethnic groups and people that were not born as Americans. This emerging population is an extremely diverse group, consisting of people from all corners of the world with equally distinct lifestyles and cultures. This increasing cultural diversity on such a massive scale should be taken into consideration while making any future business assessments or plans.

The workplace is also undergoing a transformation of sorts. Outsourcing continues at a rapid pace. Another important trend is telecommuting. At the same time, the United States has moved from a manufacturing to a service-based economy. At work, more generations are mixing in the workforce; workers are not spending their whole lifetimes with one company and have less loyalty toward their employer; and information overload often creates difficulties and frustration.

An analysis of broad trends also reveals how tremendously the "technology boom" has hit many parts of the world, including this nation. The increase in the number of Internet and wireless phone users is staggering. The figures indicate that more and more people are opting for wireless communication and want to be "in touch" all the time. Technology tools are also shrinking in size, and nano-technology is the wave of the future.

With the boom in the Internet and wireless technology, it is not surprising that some of the biggest changes over the last decade have been observed in the sphere of communication. Letters and face-to-face conversations are being replaced with e-mail and virtual conferences. Instant Messaging is becoming increasingly popular at workplaces that often come equipped with voice, video and file transfer capabilities. Today, with the latest mobile phone in hand, people can access e-mail, browse the Web, listen to music and even watch movies. Another new wave to hit the World Wide Web is blogging, which is becoming the de facto medium of choice for many people to communicate and share their views.

U.S. economic trends also reveal distinct pressures on the average person. Reports indicate that U.S. citizens spend a disproportionate amount of their income on housing, a figure that continues to increase. In the year 2005, household budgets have witnessed an exponential rise in fuel prices. Meanwhile, the United States, on a macro scale, is taking on huge debt levels, while countries like the People's Republic of China and India are growing at rapid rates. Such a trend could portend a shift in overall economic power between the world's most powerful nations.

A review of many types and sources of information reveals that the United States is undergoing a massive change in the way it lives, communicates, works and entertains itself. Any estimates or studies for the future cannot ignore these revolutionary changes taking place. The following sections illustrate these and other trends, and demonstrate the dramatic social, economic, and cultural shifts that are underway.

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