Aside from helping to elect Barack Obama, voters in California passed historic legislation to approve the nation’s first high-speed rail network. If the US wants to get back to work, investing in all its transport is key – and loosening up that airport Homeland Security wouldn’t go amiss either.

Monocle has drawn up a shortlist of 20 people – from politics, business, music and design – who we want to hear more of in 2009. By overcoming the odds, finding gaps in the market and thinking creatively, they’ve already helped make the world a better place.

For every politician who thinks before speaking, there are more who charge ahead regardless. And for every firm that embarks on intelligent design or innovative commerce, there are numerous others littering landscapes with profit-driven waste. We give you the five groups who need to cease existing, and now.

From a southern African state that has gone from hungry nation to food exporter, to a vast new port in Mexico and a sea of trouble in Europe, we pinpoint the places that will make the headlines – for good and bad reasons – in 2009.

The most brilliantly effective ideas are usually the most simple. Trams to deliver goods, field tests for aid programmes, and free access to contraception in Africa – these are some examples that Monocle believes will have civic leaders and governments asking themselves, ‘Why didn’t we think of that?’

There’s a real sense that we are entering a new era, with a fresh, sharp president in the White House and an economy in flux. Here five leading thinkers, writers and academics – Alain de Botton, Paula Scher, Andrew J Bacevich, Amnon Aran and Richard Roberts – look at how we, and the world, will change in 2009

The Copenhagen Climate Conference, upcoming elections in rogue states and expert opinion on a new presidency in South Africa.

They might not make headlines, but there are numerous border disputes that could spark a crisis at any time (although we hope Canada and the US would avoid war over their quarrel regarding lobster-rich waters). Monocle names potential flashpoints.

Japan has the fastest ageing population in the world, and businesses are quick to provide architect-designed care homes and grandchild robots for the elderly. Other nations need to take note of opportunities in this booming sector.

From robotic nurses to submersible aircraft, the stuff of science fiction is close to becoming a reality. Monocle tracks down five innovative high-tech firms that are on the brink of achieving great things in 2009.

The world recession, climate change and volatile oil prices will take their toll on businesses, but they also herald new opportunities. Monocle looks at the migration of wealth and the changing face of the business landscape. And why 2009 is the best year to start a company.

In the developed world, the service industry is a fast-growing driver of the economy, so it pays to have well-trained, highly skilled staff. While the MBA can boost your credentials in the business arena, Monocle asks whether it’s time to introduce an equivalent for those who work in hotels, airlines and high-street banks.

The companies that will stand out in the next year are the ones that are driven by high standards, innovation, creativity and a desire to make a difference. From a small Nigerian publisher to a Danish IT firm staffed mainly by people with autism, these are the brands Monocle will be keeping its eye on.

How Mexico's postal service is being transformed, powering up Italy and the banks that are set to thriven 2009.

Traditional media brands have been infected by the web’s ‘publish now, worry about the facts later’ ethic and as their standards slip, readers vanish. But now there’s a crop of journalists who can mix old-school standards with high-tech reporting methods.

Leading up to the US elections, Monocle spoke to reporters from around the globe based in America about their take on the proceedings for our series ‘From their own correspondent’. With Obama storming to victory, they tell us what it means for their country and their views on the president elect.

The media industries are evolving and morphing extremely quickly and the old ways of doing things are becoming redundant. To help you keep up, Monocle identifies the pioneers, technologies and trends of the future.

The print media market is in a right old mess and half the problem is the way magazines and newspapers are sold. Mass brands and grocery stores have reinvented themselves – now newsagents and kiosks must do the same.

Let Monocle entertain you with its selection of art shows, films, albums and books. The sun rises on 2009 with hot new artists, musicians and directors coming to the fore. Enjoy.

When you think of a design city, Copenhagen (hosting studios for Nokia and Samsung) or Barcelona (home to a number of design studios) might spring to mind. But we predict three lesser-known metropolises set to become design hubs.

Every new year needs a fresh manifesto, so while you’re kicked back, lying low, chasing the sun or even hard at it, we’ve developed a pick and mix of ideas to create your own to-do list for a happy 2009. If you’re particularly ambitious you can seize the entire list or simply embrace a few of our favourites: build a cellar of the Bekaa Valley’s finest, take up residence in a perfectly formed town (Belluno as featured on page 184) or find a conference you actually want to attend. To keep all of these ideas top of mind we’re working with artist Satoshi Hashimoto to create a limited-edition poster for mid-afternoon inspiration.

The firm that's found space to park its buildings, a natural talent from Austria and John Maeda of the Rhode Island School of Design gives his new year predictions.

Old Town, new look, Porter's bag for all seasons and how to pocket the prefect T-shirt.

In the first edition of Monocle’s Design Dialogues, an intimate series of discussions on key design issues, we throw the spotlight on the future of the workplace. You can also listen to the full discussion at [monocle.com](http://monocle.com).

Daniel Fügenschuh’s simple white house in Tyrolean capital Innsbruck is a chalet for the 21st century and a great foil for the city’s grand architecture. Its modernist proportions and interiors are tempered with warm wooden furniture and traditional details to create a true family sanctuary.

As 2008 draws to a close and many of our long-term wishes have already come true, there is still the diplomatic issue of gift giving to consider. What do you give family, friends and colleagues who expect high standards from Monocle readers? Find inspiration in these gifts, perfect for every seasonal eventuality.

There is change in the air on the Left Bank. On rue de Seine, fashion boutiques, top-notch restaurants and independent food outlets have breathed new life along the narrow pavements and into the tree-lined courtyards. The art scene still provides the backbone of the Rive Gauche, but this transformation means there is a new buzz about the place.

From micro to macro, we celebrate three close-knit communities where we would happily see out 2009. These are places that because of design, history or geography have what it takes for an easy going and cosy way of life. Come with us to a 21st-century commune in tokyo, a string of islands off istanbul and a mountain town in italy where you’re likely to live to 100.

As we enter the New Year, we have a new president heading for the Oval Office, and a chance to reflect on the meaning of happiness and wealth in 2009 and beyond. And there are developments at Monocle HQ: an audio show and a carefully crafted retail venture. No wonder our editor-in-chief, Tyler Brûlé, is feeling optimistic.