Emerging Risks Survey Highlights Economic, Geopolitical Threats
What happened
A new Emerging Risks Survey indicates that economic and geopolitical risks are the most impactful emerging risks among C-suite executives. The survey was released by the Society of Actuaries.
Why it matters
The Society of Actuaries (SOA) and Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) have been tracking emerging risks since 2008. Their annual survey identifies evolving concerns of risk managers, actuaries, and insurance professionals. The survey uses both quantitative and qualitative questions to understand how risk management perceptions are changing. This year's survey included C-suite executives, with greater-than-normal financial volatility topping their list of concerns for 2026. Geoeconomic and globalization shifts were second, followed by extreme weather events, AI adverse outcomes, and cyber events. Looking further out, technological and economic risks, particularly AI and financial volatility, are expected to have the greatest impact. Geopolitical risks can significantly impact businesses, leading to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and decreased trade. Uncertainty is a major consequence, prompting businesses to reconsider investments and potentially delaying expansion plans. Geopolitical instability can also reshape business strategies, requiring companies to prioritize operational resilience and risk mitigation. Several factors contribute to geopolitical risks, including the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, trade conflicts, and rising nationalism. These tensions can disrupt supply chains, increase production costs, and heighten the risk of retaliatory trade measures. Businesses are finding that traditional strategies focused on market size and efficiency are being disrupted by geopolitics.
Key numbers
- The Society of Actuaries (SOA) and Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) have been tracking emerging risks since 2008.
- This year's survey included C-suite executives, with greater-than-normal financial volatility topping their list of concerns for 2026.
What happens next
- Looking further out, technological and economic risks, particularly AI and financial volatility, are expected to have the greatest impact.
- Uncertainty is a major consequence, prompting businesses to reconsider investments and potentially delaying expansion plans.
Sources
Quick answers
What happened in Emerging Risks Survey Highlights Economic, Geopolitical Threats?
A new Emerging Risks Survey indicates that economic and geopolitical risks are the most impactful emerging risks among C-suite executives. The survey was released by the Society of Actuaries.
Why does Emerging Risks Survey Highlights Economic, Geopolitical Threats matter?
The Society of Actuaries (SOA) and Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) have been tracking emerging risks since 2008. Their annual survey identifies evolving concerns of risk managers, actuaries, and insurance professionals. The survey uses both quantitative and qualitative questions to understand how risk management perceptions are changing. This year's survey included C-suite executives, with greater-than-normal financial volatility topping their list of concerns for 2026. Geoeconomic and globalization shifts were second, followed by extreme weather events, AI adverse outcomes, and cyber events. Looking further out, technological and economic risks, particularly AI and financial volatility, are expected to have the greatest impact. Geopolitical risks can significantly impact businesses, leading to inflation, supply chain disruptions, and decreased trade. Uncertainty is a major consequence, prompting businesses to reconsider investments and potentially delaying expansion plans. Geopolitical instability can also reshape business strategies, requiring companies to prioritize operational resilience and risk mitigation. Several factors contribute to geopolitical risks, including the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, trade conflicts, and rising nationalism. These tensions can disrupt supply chains, increase production costs, and heighten the risk of retaliatory trade measures. Businesses are finding that traditional strategies focused on market size and efficiency are being disrupted by geopolitics.
