New and improved distribution channels are seen across all regions as potential growth accelerators.
In Europe, lower distribution costs are also a key part of the puzzle. Not surprisingly, better investor education is universally considered a key to further ETF growth in all regions.
In Asia, the various stock connect programmes that facilitate trading between Asian countries are widely seen as a factor that is likely to spur further asset growth.
Firms in Europe and Asia also see fund passporting to provide another area of growth for expanding ETFs; whereas North American firms do not view this area as having significant growth opportunities.
This is somewhat surprising, as many of the North American firms PwC surveyed expect to expand globally over the next few years.