Experts are making predictions for 2012 in a wide variety of technology, business, and economics areas. Here’s our pick of the most interesting. – Ed.

Marc Andreessen: Predictions for 2012 (and beyond), CNET

5 gadget predictions for 2012, ComputerWeekly

Gartner Predicts 2012, Gartner, Inc.

Five predictions for the communications world in 2012, The Guardian

Worldwide System Infrastructure Software 2012 Top 10 Predictions, IDC

Security Predictions for 2012, InfoWorld

6 Crazy Tech Predictions for 2012, Mashable

12 predictions for 2012, NESTA (National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts)

Smart Guide 2012: 10 ideas you’ll want to understand, New Scientist

Five big data predictions for 2012, O’Reilly Radar

Tech highlights of 2011. Predictions for 2012, Smarter Computing Blog

The Definitive Guide To HTML5: 14 Predictions For 2012, TechCrunch

Predictions for 2012: economic recovery, The Telegraph

Four Personal Finance Technology Trends for 2012, Time Techland

Output shifts

Despite two decades of outsourcing and globalisation, the US remains the world’s largest manufacturer in 2009. However, its share of world value-added in manufacturing declined from around 22.7% of the total in 1990 to less than 20% in 2009. China’s share rose from a minute 2.7% to 17.5% over the same period, taking over Japan, hitherto the world’s second largest manufacture, whose share dropped from 17.7% to 11.4% over the two decades.

China’s increase was a fillip to the share of emerging markets in general,  with BRIIC countries (which as well as China include Brazil, Russia, India, Indonesia and South Africa) accounting for a quarter of value-added in manufacturing in 2009 compared with less than 10% in 1990.

This is in contrast with the fall in the share of several other OECD countries has also fallen, notably in Germany by three percentage points to just over 6% of the total. The EU now accounts for only 17.5%. Two OECD countries that saw slight increases include Australia, whose share edged up to 1% of the total, as it gained from the Asian boom, and Mexico, whose share reached 1.8%, up from 1.3%, reflected this economy’s emerging status.

Markets and state-managed institutions are not always well suited to managing common-pool resources, such as water catchments, river fisheries or nearby pasture lands. Resources have to be managed sustainably over time, and market prices and government rules might not be able to deliver the most effective solutions.

As a strategic power that is intent on rivaling the United States, China is naturally  an economic power with a GNP that is projected to surpass that of the United States at the nominal level in 2025.  By dint of the simple fact that it has become the second greatest economic power in the world, China has seen its economic relations with the other BRICS significantly increase. China is the primary trade partner of Brazil, India, and South Africa. The interdependence among BRICS is  thereby considerably deepening. This development should be interpreted with caution, however. The closer economic ties among the BRICS have more to do with additional bilateral agreements than with any integration among these countries. For all the BRICS, the region remains the preferred level for economic integration processes.

Forecasting Asia's Growing Pains

Asia’s growth will strain the resources of the entire globe by mid-century, according to Charles Morrison, president of the East-West Center. Morrison told business leaders at an Asia-Pacific Business Symposium that, by 2050, Asia will own more than half the world’s automobiles and more than half of global GDP.

With all the development come vulnerabilities. Asia’s most rapidly growing cities will be more susceptible to natural and human-made disasters, Morrison warned. Also, large human and animal populations living close together raises the risks of new disease pandemics.

Meanwhile, by 2050, 40% of Japan’s population will be over 60 years old, and less than 9% will be younger than 15, creating a future demographic disaster as fewer young people will be able to support their elders. And environmentally, water scarcities already afflict parts of Asia due to increased farm and livestock production.

“There are uncertainties about how to handle the enormous challenges Asian countries face,“ said Morrison, who called for more dialogue among the region’s nations.