Milken Institute Global Conference begins amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 4
Milken Institute Global Conference begins amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty
9 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 4
The event opens Monday in Beverly Hills, with speakers including Nvidia's Jensen Huang, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, SEC Chair Paul Atkins and White House adviser Kevin Hassett.
PwC Global Chair Mohamed Kande said CEOs are spending more time navigating fragmented regulation, data-localisation rules and supply-chain diversification as trade and security alliances shift.
He said the war with Iran and Strait of Hormuz disruption have intensified shortages in oil, gas, helium, fertiliser and petrochemicals, while markets have yet to fully price the risks.
Could the opaque $1.8 trillion private credit market become the trigger for the next global financial crisis?
The AI boom needs immense water and minerals. Which will break first: the global supply chain or the environment?
As companies build 'resilient' supply chains, are they just swapping one set of geopolitical risks for another?
Global Growth at Risk: How Middle East Tensions and AI Innovation Are Reshaping Markets and Policy
Overview
In early May 2026, Iran's threats to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz triggered a sharp 15% surge in global oil prices, contributing to a nearly 50% rise since the year's start. This energy shock, combined with ongoing geopolitical tensions, led the IMF to revise global growth forecasts downward and warned of inflation and economic risks. Central banks face the challenge of balancing inflation control with economic slowdown, while the conflict accelerates corporate shifts toward AI-driven efficiencies. Meanwhile, the Milken Institute Global Conference fosters cross-sector collaboration to address these complex challenges, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between innovative ideas and real-world policy implementation.