This study outlines the status of livelihoods today, and explores emerging trends in the economy, technology, demography, environment, security and governance which could impact livelihoods in the future. it asks how we can build secure livelihoods; how societies will adapt to the coming...

The world has made good progress in improving global livelihoods. More than two billion people have emerged from extreme poverty over the last four decades. Other notable improvements include real increases in wages for unskilled workers, better life expectancy, greater gender equality and more...

Contents; Foreword; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Overview; Figure O.1 The recent commodity boom was the largest and longest of any boom since 1900; Figure O.2 Real commodity prices in local currency units increased by between 75 and 150 percent but have fallen since; Figure O.3 Slower growth should...