Debt Surely the debt is doing the heavy lifting at the moment to support the economy all over the world during this pandemic. The ultra-low interest rate environment ensure more mortgages (in terms of quantum and size) being taken, corporate borrowings increase, governments issuing more bonds. Especially in the US where the Dems and Biden wont hesitate to print more money, just because the US is only country in the world that does not have the debt limit - everyone love their green notes. But for how long?
When the interest rate starts increasing again, the issue will arise. Not for short term, as RBA stated that when the wage grows and inflation achieve their target, they will raise the rate again.
Automation Surely this will have big impact in the long-term but not right now. However, in the US they are starting using the robots in some areas such as warehousing (Amazon), delivery (Amazon) and truck driving (Tesla).
I would say we gonna see some reaction from truck drivers in the US for their jobs being taken by Elon Musk
For the future, my theory is that the rich will have their bot army producing everything and supply to the ordinary people (who are just sleeping, eating what they are given and surfing the HotCop) in exchange for other resources that they need (land, water, air, resources, politics power, etc.)
Or, the rich may have gone to the Mars with their army and leave us here
