EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) conducted its annual opinion survey of the Asia-Pacific policy community from June to August 2026. The survey gathered responses from more than 500 experts and thought leaders from government, business, academia, civil society, and the media across 23 economies. In a nutshell, it captures their views on economic outlooks, risks to growth, policy priorities for APEC Leaders, and the issues pertaining to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. Chapter 1 finds that respondents remain more optimistic about the prospects of the Asia-Pacific economy than those of the global economy over the next few years. While confidence in the region’s growth outlook reflects strong domestic demand, technological dynamism, and continued...