Commentary

From the United Kingdom to China, youth unemployment has been a point of concern. But across the world there is also a growing number of young people who aren’t in school, don’t have a job, and aren’t in any sort of vocational training.

"The future of mankind will be dominated by 20 to 25 super-regions, with Chicago prominent among them," says Michael Fassnacht, who exits the economic development agency this month.

"Little Italy is no longer a thing,” says one restaurant operator. “It has come and gone.”

Chicago's transit system may need to make cuts and raise fares after COVID relief funds phase out, but riders won't likely see a systemic collapse like Venezuelan commuters experienced in the 2010s.

In the elite realm of haute cuisine where Alinea resides, the influence, name recognition, and drawing power of the restaurant extends well beyond Chicago to the dining capitals of the world.

Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and drought in the Panama Canal are delaying shipments and could increase emissions.

Dave Sloan retires after this year's McCormick Place confab. In an exclusive chat, he reflects on how this car biz showpiece has changed — and how it's kept Chicago on the industry's global map.

"In 20 years, I’m betting that Texas will feel sorry that they shipped these workers away," says Jaime Di Paulo, president of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Chicago figures prominently in a ranking that's not just about dollars and cents.

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for business leaders navigating thorny global issues. Even so, there are common mistakes to avoid.