As 2008, a year that shook the world and began the restructuring of the global economies, draws to a close, we take a look at the year ahead. Which economies are likely to find it easiest to ride out the current recession and what management tools and skills should opinion formers and business leaders draw on to ensure they provide the right climate for firms to do well? Strangely, not all the news is bad news, as we have been finding out in our recent interviews with academics and associates of Cambridge Judge Business School.