The Big Picture is a PESTLE analysis taking you through the broader environment around innovation. Today, we cover Politics and Economics.

Politics : Looking for heroes

In an article from La Tribune, we interestingly learn that France is the first European nation in terms of start-up creation. As Delphine Cuny explains, French minister of economy stated that “we need to define a European digital strategy, unifying rules”. That may indeed be welcome, especially as on the other side of the Channel, Ofcom starts to plan IoT support. As Warwick Ashford explains for Computer Weekly, “Ofcom has pledged to work with the government, the information commissioner’s office, other regulators and industry to support the progress of IoT nationally and internationally.”

Innovation and technology hold other kinds of influence over politics. As Severin Carrell from The Guardian mentions, “Analysing live data on Google searches for the name Alex Salmond combined with commercial polling figures allowed the researchers to predict the yes vote would hit 45% – five days before that actual result in the referendum on 18 September.” Predictions on the one hand, uncertainties on the other hand. Ingrid Lunden writes in TechCrunch that “Still, at a time when companies like Google are getting scrutinized on other regulatory fronts and subsequently challenged in the public eye, a Google Tax will not be welcomed.”

Will innovation and technology ever help solving real political issues ? We can at least hope there is an intent. For the political issues are real, and they need more than predictable solutions. As AFP reminds in La Gazette des Communes, in France “discriminations slow down the economic integration of immigrants’ descendants, especially those from Africa.” On the other side of the Atlantic ocean, George Friedman reminds in Stratfor : “So a speech will be made. Obama and Netanyahu are supposed to dislike each other. Politicians are going to be elected and jockey for power. All of this is true, and none of it matters. What does matter is that the United States, regardless of who is president, has to develop a new strategy in the region.”

Economics : going round in circles

The New York Times shares a 3D view of the global economic situation, with an analysis of “The Yield Curve”. The outlook doesn’t look bright, especially in 3-D. As Jonathan Gebauer explains for The Social MS, “Startups get founded everywhere – but the money to start up simply isn’t available.” May be it is high time we explore new dimensions ? As Hitachi reminds, “The McKinsey Institute has calculated that shifting towards a circular economy could add $1 trillion to the global economy by 2025 and create 100,000 new jobs within the next five years – a significant reward for creating less ‘waste’ during work.” Kathryn Dill from Forbes interviewed Ben Parr, the author of “Captivology”. In his own words, “It’s not about capturing attention for just yourself, it’s about capturing attention for the great ideas, the great art, the great projects that you have. Everybody has some passion more people should see or notice.” More ideas, more money ? It depends on how we manage to structure the “more”. As Parag Khanna writes in Longitudes about the sharing economy, “these online platforms empower individuals, reduce transaction costs, and create a more inclusive economy. But their evolution is far from straightforward, and many such services will require careful regulation if they are to flourish – as protests and court rulings in Europe against Uber demonstrate.”