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Renowned economist Thierry Malleret has a unique ability to scan the global landscape and boil down the “must-watch” issues for any decision-maker/investor. And for the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) he “connects the dots” for the wellness industry.

Read on to see what he identifies as the top four economic and political issues facing our world right now. And on the wellness front: Will the long “McDonald’s era” soon be replaced by a “Farmer’s Market era”? What do the current, sometimes violent, global “currency wars” mean for international travel—and wellness travel—this summer and beyond?

The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) research recently revealed the hot springs market had reached $50 billion, spanning 26,847 properties worldwide. And while taking the waters goes by many names globally—from “agua calientes” to balneotherapy—markets share one thing in common: they’re surging.

Thermal/mineral springs locations without spa services represent two-thirds of locations—but read on to see just how much MORE hot springs facilities with spa treatments bring in revenue-wise.

This article could have been written as an advertisement expounding the benefits of massage! Touch is the first of the senses to develop in the human infant, and it remains perhaps the most emotionally central throughout our lives. Numerous studies show that if we often experience friendly or loving caresses, “it’s safe to assume that we have a strong social network, which is itself one of the best predictors of happiness, health and longevity.”

I was recently asked to give a presentation on current trends in the wellness industry at the annual Professional Spa & Wellness Convention in London. As we all know, some trends are like waves in the ocean: They come and go and come and go and come and go. Yet others seem to be more predictable: predominantly those trends are derived from well-observable and stable socio-cultural shifts in our societies.

Over the past decade, wellness has become a major priority for corporations. Companies both large and small are recognizing that employee wellbeing significantly affects productivity, innovation and reputation. In response, they are incorporating prevention-based initiatives (such as healthy eating, stress management and smoking cessation) into their corporate cultures.

Central banks in the Eurozone (EZ), Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark have just moved to negative interest rates; thus casting investors into a world of negative yields already amounting to $2 trillion (comprised of both sovereign and corporate bonds, like Nestlé or Shell). As much of the world flirts with either “lowflation” or deflation, this situation will endure, with two main consequences: (1) It pushes many investors into risky assets; (2) It makes the life of insurance companies and pensions funds a misery – no longer able to match returns (often expected at 8%!) and liabilities.