Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Future Models of Value

Economic value, the benefit derived from a good or service, and utility, in the economic sense of the worth of a good or service, have long underpinned financial markets. Yet holistic models recognising the complexity of today’s existence are few and far between. Maslow’s hierarchy established physiological needs as the very foundation of human requirements; the baseline from which one may experience utility and derive value. These needs for food, water, shelter, rest and health directly relate to SDGs 2 Zero Hunger, 6 Clean Water & Sanitation, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, and 3 Good Health & Well Being.

The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024 confirm that - despite years of ongoing global prosperity - hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition remain prevalent. Billions still go without safe drinking water. There is a deepening global slum crisis, even as urban sprawl stresses the environment. Progress towards universal health coverage has slowed, leaving billions without care and subject to crippling costs, exacerbated by a shrinking workforce that struggles to meet the increasing demands of an ageing population.

In the meantime, the developed world is aging, and Australia leads the pack for life expectancy in English-speaking high-income countries, However, like many of its peers, Australia suffers a pensions gap, with only slightly more than 30% of Australians able to afford a comfortable retirement. A key retirement asset remains the home, where increased climate threats have seen the cost of insuring homes rise significantly, so much so that in March 2024, 15% of Australian households were subject to premiums costing more than four weeks income.

This roundtable asks the question, in a world where basic needs are not being met for many, how might we create and express value differently? What are the measures that matter and how might we incentivise growth that serves humanity and does not enslave it?

Join this interactive session with expert speakers from the fields of finance, technology and health, as they bring fresh perspectives of value.