Despite highly publicised handwringing over geopolitical uncertainty, corporate misbehaviour, and the job-killing potential of artificial intelligence, there is surprising faith and optimism among chief executives in the economic and business environment worldwide, at least over the next 12 months. This is proved by the 21st survey of CEOs of the largest companies worldwide. 2017 saw the highest-ever jump to the highest-ever level of CEO optimism regarding global growth prospects over the next 12 months.

For the first time since asking the question in 2012, CEOs believe global economic growth will ‘improve’. In fact, the percentage of CEOs predicting ‘improved’ growth doubled from the last year. This record level of optimism holds fast across every region from North America (defined as the US and Canada for this survey) and Latin America to Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe (CEE), Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.