World Economic Forum#Technology Pioneers Programme

File:1971 Opening.jpg

File:Frederik de Klerk with Nelson Mandela - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 1992.jpg and Nelson Mandela shake hands at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Davos in January 1992.]]

File:Henry Kissinger with former USSR leaders - WEF Annual Meeting 1992.jpg with former USSR leaders at the WEF Annual Meeting 1992]]

File:Børge Brende at the World Economic Forum on Africa 2008.jpg, managing director and current president of the World Economic Forum, at the opening press conference in 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa]]

The WEF was founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, a business professor at the University of Geneva.{{cite book |title=The World Economic Forum – A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Global Governance |last=Pigman |first=Geoffrey Allen |pages=6–22 |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-70204-1 |publisher=Routledge |location=London}} First named the European Management Forum, it changed its name to the World Economic Forum in 1987 and sought to broaden its vision to include providing a platform for resolving international conflicts.{{cite news |title=The World Economic Forum – A Partner in Shaping History The First 40 Years 1971 – 2010 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_First40Years_Book_2010.pdf |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=2009 |access-date=14 April 2022 |archive-date=21 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421063137/https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_First40Years_Book_2010.pdf |url-status=live }}

In February 1971, Schwab invited 450 executives from Western European firms to the first European Management Symposium held in the Davos Congress Centre under the patronage of the European Commission and European industrial associations, where Schwab sought to introduce European firms to American management practices.{{Cite web|title=Davos at 50: a timeline of highlights|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/world-economic-forum-davos-at-50-history-a-timeline-of-highlights/|access-date=9 February 2021|website=World Economic Forum|language=en|archive-date=10 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210093935/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/world-economic-forum-davos-at-50-history-a-timeline-of-highlights/|url-status=live}} He then founded the WEF as a nonprofit organization based in Geneva and drew European business leaders to Davos for the annual meetings each January.Kellerman. p. 229.

The second European Management Forum in 1972 was the first meeting where a head of government featured as a speaker, Prime Minister Pierre Werner of Luxembourg.{{Cite web|title=1972s – The Triumph of an Idea – Building an International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation|url=http://widgets.weforum.org/history/1972.html|access-date=9 February 2021|website=widgets.weforum.org|language=en|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521170630/https://widgets.weforum.org/history/1972.html|url-status=live}}

Events in 1973, including the collapse of the Bretton Woods fixed-exchange rate mechanism and the Yom Kippur War, saw the annual meeting expand its focus from management to economic and social issues, and, for the first time, political leaders were invited to the annual meeting in January 1974.{{Registration required|date=January 2011}} [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0304411c-c5e8-11dc-8378-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=01b19234-b4b2-11dc-990a-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 "Interview: Klaus Schwab"]Financial Times. 22 January 2008. accessed 29 August 2008 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604034329/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0304411c-c5e8-11dc-8378-0000779fd2ac%2Cdwp_uuid%3D01b19234-b4b2-11dc-990a-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 |date=4 June 2009}}

Through the forum's first decade, it maintained a playful atmosphere, with many members skiing and participating in evening events. Appraising the 1981 event, one attendee noted that "the forum offers a delightful vacation on the expense account."{{Cite magazine |date=16 February 1981 |title=The Magic Meeting Place |magazine=Time |issn=0040-781X}}

Political leaders soon began to use the annual meeting as venue for promoting their interests. The Davos Declaration was signed in 1988 by Greece and Turkey, helping them turn back from the brink of war. In 1992, South African president F. W. de Klerk met with Nelson Mandela and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi at the annual meeting, their first joint appearance outside South Africa. At the 1994 annual meeting, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat reached a draft agreement on Gaza and Jericho.Lowe, Felix (14 January 2008). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/exclusions/hubpages/davos2008/davoshistory.xml "WEF and Davos: A Brief History"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403191551/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fmoney%2Fexclusions%2Fhubpages%2Fdavos2008%2Fdavoshistory.xml |date=3 April 2008}}. The Telegraph. accessed 25 January 2011.

After 9/11, the WEF was held in the U.S., in New York City, for the first time.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-10 |title=Why 9/11 reminds us we must respond to fear with openness |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/09/why-9-11-reminds-us-we-must-respond-to-fear-with-openness/ |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=World Economic Forum |language=en |archive-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218132321/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/09/why-9-11-reminds-us-we-must-respond-to-fear-with-openness/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=WEF: Von Kriegspropaganda und Weltfrieden |url=https://www.handelszeitung.ch/politik/wef-von-kriegspropaganda-und-weltfrieden-553617 |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=Handelszeitung |language=de-CH |archive-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218131548/https://www.handelszeitung.ch/politik/wef-von-kriegspropaganda-und-weltfrieden-553617 |url-status=live }} And in January 2003, U.S. secretary of state Powell went to the forum to drum up sympathy for the global war on terrorism and the U.S.'s impending invasion of Iraq.{{Cite web |last=Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information |first=Bureau of Public Affairs |date=2003-01-26 |title=Remarks at the World Economic Forum |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/2003/16869.htm |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=2001-2009.state.gov |language=en |archive-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218131548/https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/2003/16869.htm |url-status=live }}

In October 2004, the World Economic Forum gained attention through the resignation of its CEO{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2004/10/ceo_resigns/|title=CEO resigns|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=14 June 2020|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806194259/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2004/10/ceo_resigns/|url-status=live}} and executive director José María Figueres over the undeclared receipt of more than US$900,000 in consultancy fees from the French telecommunications firm Alcatel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/wef-director-resigns-over-undeclared-fees/4171240|title=WEF director resigns over undeclared fees|website=SWI swissinfo.ch|date=29 October 2004 |access-date=14 June 2020|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815180653/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/wef-director-resigns-over-undeclared-fees/4171240|url-status=live}} Transparency International highlighted this incident in their Global Corruption Report two years later in 2006.{{Cite web|title=Global Corruption Report 2006 – Transparency International, Page 147|url=https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2006_GCR_HealthSector_EN.pdf|website=Global Corruption Report 2006 – Transparency International|access-date=30 May 2021|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719090720/https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2006_GCR_HealthSector_EN.pdf|url-status=live}}

In January 2006, the WEF published an article in its Global Agenda magazine titled "Boycott Israel", which was distributed to all 2,340 participants of the annual meeting.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/673871/scandal-davos |title=Scandal At Davos |date=26 January 2006 |website=Fast Company |access-date=17 June 2020 |archive-date=17 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617101259/https://www.fastcompany.com/673871/scandal-davos |url-status=live }} Following the publication, Klaus Schwab described the publication as "an unacceptable failure in the editorial process".{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2006-01-25/the-scandal-at-davos |title=The Scandal at Davos |first=Bruce |last=Nussbaum |date=26 January 2006 |website=Bloomberg |access-date=17 June 2020 |archive-date=17 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617122805/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2006-01-25/the-scandal-at-davos |url-status=live }}

In late 2015, the invitation was extended to include a North Korean delegation for the 2016 WEF, "in view of positive signs coming out of the country", the WEF organizers noted. North Korea has not been attending the WEF since 1998. The invitation was accepted.{{Cite web|last=Atkinson|first=Claire|date=6 January 2016|title=North Korea accepts invite to World Economic Forum|url=https://nypost.com/2016/01/05/north-korea-accepts-invite-to-world-economic-forum/|access-date=13 February 2021|website=New York Post|language=en-US|archive-date=1 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701123137/https://nypost.com/2016/01/05/north-korea-accepts-invite-to-world-economic-forum/|url-status=live}} However, WEF revoked the invitation on 13 January 2016, after the 6 January 2016 North Korean nuclear test, and the country's attendance was made subject to "existing and possible forthcoming sanctions".Keaten Jamey, AP (13 January 2016). [https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-01-13/world-economic-forum-revokes-invite-to-north-korea-for-davos "World Economic Forum revokes invitation to North Korea to attend the annual meeting in Davos"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011152918/http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-01-13/world-economic-forum-revokes-invite-to-north-korea-for-davos |date=11 October 2016}}. U.S. News & World Report. accessed 14 January 2016.{{Cite web|title=World Economic Forum revokes invite to North Korea for Davos|url=https://apnews.com/article/2b64b1e124c3455dbafaf3c47189cb4c|access-date=13 February 2021|website=AP NEWS|date=13 January 2016 |archive-date=13 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913215956/https://apnews.com/article/2b64b1e124c3455dbafaf3c47189cb4c|url-status=live}} Despite protests by North Korea calling the decision by the WEF managing board a "sudden and irresponsible" move, the WEF committee maintained the exclusion because "under these circumstances there would be no opportunity for international dialogue".AFP (15 January 2016). [http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/korea/2016/01/15/456143/N-Korean.htm N. Korean fury over 'sinister' WEF Davos forum exclusion] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007202014/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/korea/2016/01/15/456143/N-Korean.htm |date=7 October 2016}}. The China Post. accessed 15 January 2016.

In 2017, the WEF in Davos attracted considerable attention when, for the first time, a head of state from the People's Republic of China was present at the alpine resort. With the backdrop of Brexit, an incoming protectionist U.S. administration and significant pressures on free-trade zones and trade agreements, Paramount leader Xi Jinping defended the global economic scheme, and portrayed China as a responsible nation and a leader for environmental causes. He sharply rebuked the current populist movements that would introduce tariffs and hinder global commerce, warning that such protectionism could foster isolation and reduced economic opportunity.P. S. Goodman (2017). [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/business/dealbook/world-economic-forum-davos-china-xi-globalization.html "In Era of Trump, China's President Champions Economic Globalization"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117215637/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/17/business/dealbook/world-economic-forum-davos-china-xi-globalization.html |date=17 January 2017 }}. The New York Times (News Analysis). accessed 17 January 2017.

In 2018, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi gave the keynote speech, becoming the first head of government from India to deliver the inaugural keynote for the annual plenary at Davos. Modi highlighted global warming (climate change), terrorism and protectionism as the three major global challenges, and expressed confidence that they can be tackled with collective effort.{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/zoGD1tD80dF755GW9xZkyJ/Narendra-Modi-in-Davos-LIVE-PM-to-address-World-Economic-Fo.html|title=WEF Davos 2018 highlights: Narendra Modi warns of three global threats|date=23 January 2018|website=livemint.com|access-date=8 February 2018|archive-date=9 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064111/http://www.livemint.com/Politics/zoGD1tD80dF755GW9xZkyJ/Narendra-Modi-in-Davos-LIVE-PM-to-address-World-Economic-Fo.html|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro gave the keynote address at the plenary session of the conference. On his first international trip to Davos, he emphasized liberal economic policies despite his populist agenda, and attempted to reassure the world that Brazil is a protector of the rainforest while utilizing its resources for food production and export. He stated that "his government will seek to better integrate Brazil into the world by mainstreaming international best practices, such as those adopted and promoted by the OECD".[https://www.gov.br/mre/en/content-centers/speeches-articles-and-interviews/president-of-the-federative-republic-of-brazil/speeches/discurso-del-presidente-de-la-republica-jair-bolsonaro-durante-la-sesion-plenaria-del-foro-economico-mundial-davos-suiza-22-de-enero-de-2020 Speech by the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, at the Plenary Session of the World Economic Forum – Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019] www.gov.br {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110123623/https://www.gov.br/mre/en/content-centers/speeches-articles-and-interviews/president-of-the-federative-republic-of-brazil/speeches/discurso-del-presidente-de-la-republica-jair-bolsonaro-durante-la-sesion-plenaria-del-foro-economico-mundial-davos-suiza-22-de-enero-de-2020 |date=10 November 2022 }}. Brasil. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. accessed 20 July 2022. Environmental concerns like extreme weather events, and the failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation were among the top-ranking global risks expressed by WEF attendees.Taylor, Chloe (Jan 2019). [https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/davos-founders-warn-of-rising-tension-between-the-worlds-superpowers.html Global tension is hampering our ability to fight climate change, Davos survey warns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114134930/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/davos-founders-warn-of-rising-tension-between-the-worlds-superpowers.html |date=14 November 2019 }} CNBC. accessed 22 January 2019. On June 13, 2019, the WEF and the United Nations signed a "Strategic Partnership Framework" in order to "jointly accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."{{Cite web |last=Tedeneke |first=Alem |date=2019-06-13 |title=World Economic Forum and UN Sign Strategic Partnership Framework |url=https://www.weforum.org/press/2019/06/world-economic-forum-and-un-sign-strategic-partnership-framework/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230107201341/https://www.weforum.org/press/2019/06/world-economic-forum-and-un-sign-strategic-partnership-framework/ |archive-date=2023-01-07 |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=World Economic Forum |language=en}}

The 2021 World Economic Forum was due to be held from 17 to 20 August in Singapore.{{Cite web |last=Allassan |first=Fadel |title=2021 World Economic Forum to be held in Singapore instead of Davos |url=https://www.axios.com/world-economic-forum-singapore-davos-f3fb535f-4edb-4273-ae30-6a4155c360ce.html |access-date=11 December 2020 |website=Axios |date=7 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=2 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102202619/https://www.axios.com/world-economic-forum-singapore-davos-f3fb535f-4edb-4273-ae30-6a4155c360ce.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/press/2020/12/special-annual-meeting-2021-to-take-place-in-singapore-in-may/|title=Special Annual Meeting 2021 in Singapore from 25–28 May|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=13 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213012021/https://www.weforum.org/press/2020/12/special-annual-meeting-2021-to-take-place-in-singapore-in-may/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/world-economic-forum-in-singapore-postponed-from-may-to-aug-17-20|title=World Economic Forum in Singapore postponed from May to Aug 17–20|date=3 February 2021|website=The Straits Times|access-date=4 February 2021|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204070129/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/world-economic-forum-in-singapore-postponed-from-may-to-aug-17-20|url-status=live}} However, on 17 May, the forum was cancelled; with a new meeting to take place in the first half of 2022 instead with a final location and date to be determined later in 2021.{{Cite news |last=Clinch |first=Matt |title=World Economic Forum cancels 2021 meeting planned for Singapore |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/world-economic-forum-cancels-special-annual-meeting-planned-for-singapore.html |access-date=22 May 2021 |work=CNBC |date=19 May 2021 |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906060511/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/world-economic-forum-cancels-special-annual-meeting-planned-for-singapore.html |url-status=live }}

In late December 2021, the World Economic Forum said in a release that pandemic conditions had made it extremely difficult to stage a global in-person meeting the following month; transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and its impact on travel and mobility had made deferral necessary, with the meeting in Davos eventually rescheduled for 22 to 26 May 2022.{{Cite web |last=Meredith |first=Sam |date=20 December 2021 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/20/davos-world-economic-forum-postpones-meeting-due-to-covid.html |title=World Economic Forum postpones Davos meeting on Covid uncertainty |website=CNBC |access-date=20 December 2021 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220133051/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/20/davos-world-economic-forum-postpones-meeting-due-to-covid.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-21 |title=May date planned for postponed WEF meeting |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/may-date-planned-for-postponed-wef-meeting/47282030 |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Swissinfo |language=en |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113182410/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/may-date-planned-for-postponed-wef-meeting/47282030 |url-status=live }}

Topics in the 2022 annual meeting included the Russian invasion of Ukraine, climate change, energy insecurity and inflation. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a special address at the meeting,[https://nypost.com/2022/05/23/zelensky-urges-maximum-sanctions-on-russia-in-davos-talk/ Zelensky urges 'maximum' sanctions on Russia in Davos talk], New York Post, 23 May 2022, accessed 25 May 2022 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525045404/https://nypost.com/2022/05/23/zelensky-urges-maximum-sanctions-on-russia-in-davos-talk/ |date=25 May 2022 }} thanking the global community for its efforts but also calling for more support.{{cite web |url=https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2022/?stream=day-1-davos22&stream-item=president-zelenskyy-addresses-davos-2022#stream-header |title=World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, Davos |publisher=weforum.org |date=23 May 2022 |accessdate=23 May 2022 |archive-date=23 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523120232/https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2022/?stream=day-1-davos22&stream-item=president-zelenskyy-addresses-davos-2022#stream-header |url-status=live }} The 2022 forum was marked by the absence of a Russian delegation for the first time since 1991, which The Wall Street Journal described as signalling the "unraveling of globalization."{{Cite news |last=Simmons |first=Stephen Fidler and Ann M. |date=2022-05-25 |title=Russia's Absence at Davos Marks Unraveling of Globalization |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-dominates-a-meeting-to-which-it-wasnt-invited-11653492101 |access-date=2022-06-07 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607104948/https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-dominates-a-meeting-to-which-it-wasnt-invited-11653492101 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, WEF Davos Agenda 2022, Davos 2022 Forum |url=https://www.business-standard.com/world-economic-forum |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=Business Standard |archive-date=15 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915130933/https://www.business-standard.com/world-economic-forum |url-status=live }} The former Russia House was used to present Russia's war crimes.{{Cite web |url=https://www.russianwarcrimeshouse.org/ |title=Russian War Crimes |website=Russian War Crimes |access-date=23 August 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827075936/https://www.russianwarcrimeshouse.org/ |url-status=live}}

The 2023 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum took place in Davos, Switzerland, from 16–20 January under the theme "Cooperation in a fragmented world".[https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2023 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting] www.weforum.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108052939/https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2023 |date=8 January 2023 }} Jan 6 2023.

On April 21, 2025 Klaus Schwab, Chairman of the Board of the World Economic Forum, informed the Board: "Following my recent announcement and as I enter my 88th year, I have decided to step down from my position as Chair and as a member of the Board of Trustees, with immediate effect."News release by World Economic Forum Public Relations, public.affairs@weforum.org, 21 April 2025.

Headquartered in Cologny, the WEF also has offices in New York, Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul. In January 2015, it was designated an NGO with "other international body" status by the Swiss Federal Government under the Swiss Host-State Act.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/press/2015/01/world-economic-forum-gains-formal-status-in-switzerland|title=Press Release: World Economic Forum Gains Formal Status in Switzerland|date=23 January 2015|access-date=11 October 2018|archive-date=11 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011053821/https://www.weforum.org/press/2015/01/world-economic-forum-gains-formal-status-in-switzerland|url-status=live}}

On 10 October 2016, the WEF announced the opening of its new Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in San Francisco. According to the WEF, the center will "serve as a platform for interaction, insight and impact on the scientific and technological changes that are changing the way we live, work and relate to one another".{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/press/2016/10/new-forum-center-to-advance-global-cooperation-on-fourth-industrial-revolution/|title=New Forum Center to Advance Global Cooperation on Fourth Industrial Revolution|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=20 November 2016|archive-date=20 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120152702/https://www.weforum.org/press/2016/10/new-forum-center-to-advance-global-cooperation-on-fourth-industrial-revolution/|url-status=live}}

The World Economic Forum declares that it is impartial and that it is not tied to any political, partisan, or national interests.{{cn|date=October 2024}} Until 2012, it had observer status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council;{{cn|date=October 2024}} it is under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Council.{{cn|date=October 2024}} The foundation's highest governance body is the foundation board.{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/content/leadership-team |title=The Leadership Team | World Economic Forum-The Leadership Team |publisher=Weforum.org |access-date=3 August 2021 |archive-date=10 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810132951/http://www.weforum.org/content/leadership-team |url-status=live }}

The managing board is chaired by the WEF's president, Børge Brende, and acts as the executive body of the World Economic Forum. Managing board members are Børge Brende, Julien Gattoni, Jeremy Jurgens, Adrian Monck, Sarita Nayyar, Olivier M. Schwab, Saadia Zahidi, and Alois Zwinggi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/about/leadership-and-governance|title=World Economic Forum, Governance and Leadership|access-date=3 August 2021|archive-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421194559/https://www.weforum.org/about/leadership-and-governance|url-status=live}}

The WEF is chaired by founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab and is guided by a board of trustees that is made up of leaders from business, politics, academia and civil society.

As of 2024, the board of trustees is composed of: Queen Rania of Jordan, Mukesh D. Ambani, Ajay S. Banga, Marc Benioff, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Thomas Buberl, Laurence D. Fink, Chrystia Freeland, Orit Gadiesh, Kristalina Georgieva, Fabiola Gianotti, Al Gore, Andre Hoffmann, Paula Ingabire, Joe Kaeser, Christine Lagarde, Yo-Yo Ma, Patrice Motsepe, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Lubna S. Olayan, David M. Rubenstein, Ulf Mark Schneider, Klaus Schwab, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Jim Hagemann Snabe, Julie Sweet, Feike Sijbesma, Heizō Takenaka, and Zhu Min.{{Cite web |title=Leadership and Governance - World Economic Forum |url=https://www.weforum.org/about/leadership-and-governance/ |access-date=22 May 2024 |archive-date=22 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522020931/https://www.weforum.org/about/leadership-and-governance/ |url-status=live }}

Members of the board of trustees (past or present) include: Al Gore, Herman Gref, André Hoffmann, Carlos Ghosn, Christine Lagarde, Chrystia Freeland, David Rubenstein, Ernesto Zedillo, Fabiola Gianotti, Feike Sijbesma, Heizō Takenaka, Indra Nooyi, Jack Ma, Jim Hagemann Snabe, José Ángel Gurría, Josef Ackermann, Klaus Schwab, Kofi Annan, Laurence Fink, Leo Rafael Reif, Luis Alberto Moreno, Marc Benioff, Mark Carney, Maurice Lévy, Michael Dell, Mukesh Ambani, Muriel Pénicaud, Niall FitzGerald, Orit Gadiesh, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Peter Maurer, Queen Rania of Jordan, Rajat Gupta, Susan Hockfield, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Tony Blair, Mark Schneider, Ursula von der Leyen, Yo-Yo Ma, Zhu Min, Ivan Pictet, Joseph P. Schoendorf, Peter D. Sutherland, and Victor L. L. Chu..{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/about/leadership-and-governance|title=World Economic Forum, Leadership and Governance|access-date=20 November 2019|archive-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421194559/https://www.weforum.org/about/leadership-and-governance|url-status=live}}[https://www.weforum.org/press/2016/08/world-economic-forum-announces-new-board-of-trustees-2016/ World Economic Forum Announces New Board of Trustees] World Economic Forum, press release of 25 August 2016 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114184301/https://www.weforum.org/press/2016/08/world-economic-forum-announces-new-board-of-trustees-2016/ |date=14 January 2018 }}

The foundation is funded by its 1,000 member companies, typically global enterprises with more than five billion dollars in turnover (varying by industry and region). These enterprises rank among the top companies within their industry and/or country and play a leading role in shaping the future of their industry and/or region. Membership is stratified by the level of engagement with forum activities, with the level of membership fees increasing as participation in meetings, projects, and initiatives rises.{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/members |title=Members | World Economic Forum-Members |publisher=Weforum.org |access-date=22 January 2012 |archive-date=17 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117115853/http://www.weforum.org/members |url-status=live }} In 2011, an annual membership cost $52,000 for an individual member, $263,000 for "Industry Partner" and $527,000 for "Strategic Partner". An admission fee costs $19,000 per person.{{cite web |title=The Truth About Davos: Here's Why People Happily Pay $71,000+ To Come – And Why They'll Keep Paying More Every Year |website=Business Insider |date=26 January 2011 |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/costs-of-davos-2011-1 |access-date=24 January 2017 |archive-date=8 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108065945/http://www.businessinsider.com/costs-of-davos-2011-1 |url-status=live }} In 2014, WEF raised annual fees by 20 percent, bringing the cost for "Strategic Partner" from CHF 500,000 ($523,000) to CHF 600,000 ($628,000).{{cite news |title=Sky-high Davos summit fees leave multinationals feeling deflated |newspaper=The Financial Times |date=10 October 2014 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e8a128cc-4fc8-11e4-a0a4-00144feab7de |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/e8a128cc-4fc8-11e4-a0a4-00144feab7de |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription}}

File:Ettinger Sport during WEF2018.jpg

The flagship event of the World Economic Forum is the invitation-only annual meeting held at the end of January in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together chief executive officers from its 1,000 member companies, as well as selected politicians, representatives from academia, NGOs, religious leaders, and the media in an alpine environment. The winter discussions ostensibly focus around key issues of global concern (such as the globalization, capital markets, wealth management, international conflicts, environmental problems and their possible solutions).[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7830834.stm "Q&A: World Economic Forum 2009"] BBC News. accessed 25 January 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923021241/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7830834.stm |date=23 September 2016}} The participants also take part in role playing events, such as the Investment Heat Map.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21197174 |title=Davos Man eyes investment opportunities |access-date=23 February 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104193156/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21197174 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |work=BBC News |date=26 January 2013 |last=Madslien |first=Jorn}} Informal winter meetings may have led to as many ideas and solutions as the official sessions.Weber, Tim (26 January 2010). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7201300.stm "A Beginners' Guide to Davos"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923022240/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7201300.stm |date=23 September 2016}} BBC News. accessed 25 January 2011.

At the 2018 annual meeting, more than 3,000 participants from nearly 110 countries participated in over 400 sessions. Participation included more than 340 public figures, including more than 70 heads of state and government and 45 heads of international organizations; 230 media representatives and almost 40 cultural leaders were represented.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/press/2018/01/forum-closes-with-call-to-action-globalize-compassion-and-leave-no-one-behind|title=Forum Closes with Call to Action: Globalize Compassion and Leave No One Behind|date=26 January 2018|access-date=16 October 2018|archive-date=16 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016203258/https://www.weforum.org/press/2018/01/forum-closes-with-call-to-action-globalize-compassion-and-leave-no-one-behind|url-status=live}}

File:Flickr - World Economic Forum - Media Centre - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2007.jpg

As many as 500 journalists from online, print, radio, and television take part, with access to all sessions in the official program, some of which are also webcast.{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/events/ArchivedEvents/AnnualMeeting2008/ |title=Forum's homepage |publisher=Weforum.org |access-date=7 March 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} Not all the journalists are given access to all areas, however. This is reserved for white badge holders. "Davos runs an almost caste-like system of badges", according to BBC journalist Anthony Reuben. "A white badge means you're one of the delegates – you might be the chief executive of a company or the leader of a country (although that would also get you a little holographic sticker to add to your badge), or a senior journalist. An orange badge means you're just a run-of-the-mill working journalist."{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21197175 |title=My first Davos – what I learned |access-date=8 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104193156/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21197175 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |work=BBC News |date=27 January 2013 |last=Reuben |first=Anthony}} My first Davos – what I learned All plenary debates from the annual meeting also are available on YouTube{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/WorldEconomicForum |title=Kanaal van WorldEconomicForum |publisher=YouTube |date=31 January 2010 |access-date=7 March 2010 |archive-date=25 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225014719/http://www.youtube.com/user/WorldEconomicForum |url-status=live }} while photographs are available on Flickr.{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum |title=World Economic Forum's Photostream |publisher=Flickr |access-date=7 March 2010 |archive-date=29 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329072907/http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2018/ |title=48th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=22 January 2018 |archive-date=23 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123010157/https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2018 |url-status=live }}

The World Economic Forum 2025 took place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 20 to 24, under the theme Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-20 |title=Davos 2025: What to expect at this year's World Economic Forum |url=https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/01/20/davos-2025-what-to-expect-at-this-years-world-economic-forum |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=euronews |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=World Economic Forum Davos meet begins with award for David Beckham, concert on Antarctica |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/world-economic-forum-davos-meet-begins-with-award-for-david-beckham-concert-on-antarctica/cid/2078695 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250124065213/https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/world-economic-forum-davos-meet-begins-with-award-for-david-beckham-concert-on-antarctica/cid/2078695 |archive-date=2025-01-24 |access-date=2025-02-14 |language=en}} The event brought together approximately 3,000 global leaders from over 125 countries, including 350 Heads of state and government, business executives, policymakers, and representatives from international organizations.{{Cite web |last=|date=2024-01-09 |title=Rebuilding Trust: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 |url=https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2024/01/09/rebuilding-trust-world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2024/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=moderndiplomacy.eu |language=en-US}} Discussions focused on geopolitical stability, economic resilience, climate change,{{Cite news |last=Gelles |first=David |date=2025-01-21 |title=Leaders at Davos Economic Forum Vow to ‘Stay the Course’ on Climate Action |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/business/trump-climate-davos.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} artificial intelligence governance, and inclusive economic growth. Sessions covered topics such as the future of global trade, energy transition, and the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the labor market. Several initiatives were introduced, including policy frameworks for AI regulation, climate financing mechanisms, and economic strategies for sustainable development.{{Cite web |last=www.ETHRWorld.com |title=Davos 2024: Key insights on navigating global business challenges - ETHRWorldEMEA |url=https://hrme.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/davos-2024-key-insights-on-navigating-global-business-challenges/107066898 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ETHRWorld.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Sam |date=2025-01-16 |title=WEF President on Planning for a ‘Geopolitical Recession' |url=https://time.com/7204642/wef-president-borge-brende-davos-2025/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=TIME |language=en}}

Among the initiatives discussed was the Global India Dialogues, launched by the Motwani Jadeja Foundation, which focused on India’s role in global geopolitics, technology, and innovation.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Motwani Jadeja Foundation Facilitates Participation Of 10 Indian Innovators And Changemakers At Davos |url=https://www.etnownews.com/markets/motwani-jadeja-foundation-facilitates-participation-of-10-indian-innovators-and-changemakers-at-davos-article-118127361 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ET Now |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=World Economic Forum 2024: Global Insights & India's Impact |url=https://www.investindia.gov.in/blogs/world-economic-forum-2024-global-insights-indias-impact |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.investindia.gov.in |language=en}} Discussions on gender equity{{Cite news |last=Banerjee |first=Chandrajit |date=2024-02-12 |title=A global alliance to bridge the gender equity gap |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-global-alliance-to-bridge-the-gender-equity-gap/article67838843.ece |access-date=2025-02-14 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}} and economic inclusion were also highlighted through initiatives such as the Global Good Alliance for Gender Equity and Equality, which explored the economic impact of investments in women's health.{{Cite web |last=PR |first=ANI |date=2025-01-27 |title=Smriti Irani Leads a Transformative Gender Equity Agenda at Davos 2025 |url=https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/smriti-irani-leads-a-transformative-gender-equity-agenda-at-davos-2025/2465403/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=Women Inspiring Network (WIN) leads global dialogues at Davos 2025 during the World Economic Forum Week |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/wef-2025/story/women-inspiring-network-win-leads-global-dialogues-at-davos-2025-during-the-world-economic-forum-week-464735-2025-02-14 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Business Today |language=en}} The event featured key figures such as Ursula von der Leyen, Antony Blinken,{{Cite web |date=2024-01-17 |title=Gaza scenes are 'gutwrenching': US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at Davos |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/us-secretary-of-state-antony-blinken-gaza-israel-hamas-palestine-davos-world-economic-forum-2489954-2024-01-17 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=India Today |language=en}} Christian Lindner,{{Cite news |last=Arnold |first=Martin |date=2024-01-19 |title=Germany is the ‘tired man’ of Europe, says finance minister |url=https://www.ft.com/content/f6eb32e6-dd1d-4532-af2a-583b26597b99 |access-date=2025-02-14 |work=Financial Times}} and Sam Altman,{{Cite web |last=www.ETCIO.com |title=OpenAI CEO Sam Altman unveils vision for AI's impact on economy and society at WEF Davos - ET CIO |url=https://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/artificial-intelligence/openai-ceo-sam-altman-unveils-vision-for-ais-impact-on-economy-and-society-at-wef-davos/107000167 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=ETCIO.com |language=en}} alongside representatives from the United Nations,{{Cite web |date=2025-01-22 |title=Davos 2025: Trade, tariffs, AI and UN chief Guterres dominate World Economic Forum agenda |url=https://apnews.com/article/davos-wef-2025-trump-malaysia-spain-guterres-6559cde70a829d67c1335f1025758efd |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=AP News |language=en}} International Monetary Fund, and World Bank.{{Cite web |last=Loffhagen |first=Emma |date=2024-01-15 |title=Davos 2024: What is it, who is attending, and is it elitist? |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/what-is-davos-2024-world-economic-forum-politicians-billionaires-criticism-b1053239.html |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=The Standard |language=en}} The forum underscored the importance of international cooperation in addressing global economic and technological challenges.{{Cite web |title=Davos 2025: CEOs are excited to go on offense {{!}} McKinsey |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/davos-2025-ceos-are-excited-to-go-on-offense |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.mckinsey.com}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=Leaders leave Davos with 'cautious optimism' - 24 Jan 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0klx2d9/leaders-leave-davos-with-cautious-optimism-24-jan-2025 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

File:Juan Manuel Santos Calderón - World Economic Forum on Latin America 2010.jpg, president of Colombia, at the 2010 World Economic Forum]]

Some 3,000 individual participants joined the 2020 annual meeting in Davos. Countries with the most attendees include the United States (674 participants), the United Kingdom (270), Switzerland (159), Germany (137) and India (133).{{cite web |url=https://www.statista.com/chart/7609/most-attendees-at-davos/ |title=World Economic Forum – Who's Going to Davos? |date=20 January 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628141546/https://www.statista.com/chart/7609/most-attendees-at-davos/ |url-status=live }} Among the attendees were heads of state or government, cabinet ministers, ambassadors, and heads or senior officials of international organizations, including: Sanna Marin (prime minister of Finland), Ursula von der Leyen (president of the European Commission), Christine Lagarde (ECB president), Greta Thunberg (climate activist), Ren Zhengfei (Huawei Technologies founder), Kristalina Georgieva (managing director of the IMF), Deepika Padukone (Bollywood actress), George Soros (investor), and Donald Trump (president of the United States).{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/14/wef-2020-heres-who-is-going-to-davos-this-year.html |title=Here's who's going to Davos this year |website=CNBC |date=14 January 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |archive-date=28 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628141545/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/14/wef-2020-heres-who-is-going-to-davos-this-year.html |url-status=live }}

File:Isaac Herzog in Davos, January 2024 (GPOABG231).jpeg at the 2024 World Economic Forum]]

An analysis by The Economist from 2014 found that the vast majority of participants are male and more than 50 years old. Careers in business account for most of the participants' backgrounds (1,595 conference attendees), with the remaining seats shared between government (364), NGOs (246) and press (234). Academia, which had been the basis of the first annual conference in 1971, had been marginalised to the smallest participant group (183 attendees).{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/international/2014/01/23/whos-on-the-magic-mountain |title=The data of Davos – Who's on the Magic Mountain? |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=28 June 2020 |date=23 January 2014 |archive-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520093511/https://www.economist.com/international/2014/01/23/whos-on-the-magic-mountain |url-status=live }}

Next to individual participants, the World Economic Forum maintains a dense network of corporate partners that can apply for different partnership ranks within the forum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/partners/|title=Partners|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=21 July 2021|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721075341/https://www.weforum.org/partners|url-status=live}} For 2019, Bloomberg has identified a total of 436 listed corporates that participated in the annual meeting while measuring a stock underperformance by the Davos participants of around −10% versus the S&P 500 during the same year. Drivers are among others an overrepresentation of financial companies and an underrepresentation of fast-growing health care and information technology businesses at the conference.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-23/davos-s-global-elite-are-laggards-in-stock-market-performance|title=Davos's Global Elite Are Laggards in Stock-Market Performance|first=Eddie|last=van der Walt|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=23 January 2020|access-date=7 June 2020|archive-date=6 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506165535/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-23/davos-s-global-elite-are-laggards-in-stock-market-performance|url-status=live}} The Economist had found similar results in an earlier study, showing an underperformance of Davos participants against both the MSCI World Index and the S&P 500 between 2009 and 2014.

In 2007, the foundation established the Annual Meeting of the New Champions (also called Summer Davos), held annually in China, alternating between Dalian and Tianjin, bringing together 1,500 participants from what the foundation calls Global Growth Companies, primarily from rapidly growing emerging countries such as China, Russia, Mexico, and Brazil, but also including quickly growing companies from developed countries. The meeting also engages with the next generation of global leaders from fast-growing regions and competitive cities, as well as technology pioneers from around the globe.{{cite news |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/6228850.html |title=Summer Davos To Put Dalian on Business Map |publisher=China Daily (via People's Daily) |date=1 August 2007 |access-date=25 January 2011 |archive-date=3 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003065156/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/6228850.html |url-status=live }} The premier of China has delivered a plenary address at each annual meeting.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

File:India in the New Global Reality Economic Summit 2011.jpg, chief minister of Maharashtra, India; Sudha Pilay, member-secretary, Planning Commission, India; and Ben Verwaayen, chief executive officer, Alcatel-Lucent, France, were the co-chairs of the India Economic Summit 2011 in Mumbai.]]

Every year regional meetings take place, enabling close contact among corporate business leaders, local government leaders, and NGOs. Meetings are held in Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The mix of hosting countries varies from year to year, but consistently China and India have hosted throughout the decade since 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/events/ |title=World Economic Forum – Events |work=Weforum.org |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=7 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109050816/http://www.weforum.org/en/events/ |archive-date=9 January 2009}}

{{Main|Young Global Leaders}}

The group of Young Global Leaders consists of 800 people chosen by the WEF organizers as being representative of contemporary leadership. After five years of participation they are considered alumni.{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/community/forum-young-global-leaders |title=Forum of Young global Leaders |work=Weforum.org |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=5 April 2013 |archive-date=10 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110055001/http://www.weforum.org/community/forum-young-global-leaders |url-status=live }} The program has received controversy when Schwab, the founder, admitted to "penetrat[ing]" governments with Young Global Leaders. He added that as of 2017 "more than half" of Justin Trudeau's Cabinet had been members of the program.{{Cite web |title=Young Global Leaders |url=https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/young-global-leaders/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=InfluenceWatch |language=en-US |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206172953/https://www.influencewatch.org/organization/young-global-leaders/ |url-status=live }}

Since 2000, the WEF has been promoting models developed by those in close collaboration with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship,{{cite web |url=http://www.schwabfound.org/ |title=Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship – Home |publisher=Schwabfound.org |access-date=7 March 2010 |archive-date=4 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504005120/http://www.schwabfound.org/ |url-status=live }} highlighting social entrepreneurship as a key element to advance societies and address social problems.Fruchterman, Jim (31 January 2005). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4221851.stm "Davos Diary: Meetings of Minds"] BBC News. accessed 25 January 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923021938/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4221851.stm |date=23 September 2016}}Moore. p. 209. Selected social entrepreneurs are invited to participate in the foundation's regional meetings and the annual meetings where they may meet chief executives and senior government officials. At the annual meeting 2003, for example, Jeroo Billimoria met with Roberto Blois, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, an encounter that produced a key partnership for her organization Child helpline international.Bornstein. p. 272.

File:Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy World Economic Forum 2013.jpg winner, Pakistani journalist Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at WEF in 2013]]

The foundation also acts as a think tank, publishing a wide range of reports. In particular, "Strategic Insight Teams" focus on producing reports of relevance in the fields of competitiveness, global risks, and scenario thinking.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The "Competitiveness Team"{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/index.htm |title=Issues | World Economic Forum-Issues |work=Weforum.org |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=29 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201200230/http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/index.htm |archive-date=1 December 2010}} produces a range of annual economic reports (first published in brackets): the Global Competitiveness Report (1979) measured competitiveness of countries and economies; The Global Information Technology Report (2001) assessed their competitiveness based on their IT readiness; the Global Gender Gap Report examined critical areas of inequality between men and women; the Global Risks Report (2006) assessed key global risks; the Global Travel and Tourism Report (2007) measured travel and tourism competitiveness; the Financial Development Report (2008){{cite web|title=WEF – Financial Development Report|url=http://www.weforum.org/issues/financial-development|publisher=World Economic Forum|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818181200/http://www.weforum.org/issues/financial-development|archive-date=18 August 2013}} aimed to provide a comprehensive means for countries to establish benchmarks for various aspects of their financial systems and establish priorities for improvement; and the Global Enabling Trade Report (2008) presented a cross-country analysis of the large number of measures facilitating trade among nations.{{cite book |title=The World Economic Forum – A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Global Governance |last=Pigman |first=Geoffrey Allen |pages=43, 92–112 |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-70204-1 |publisher=Routledge |location=London}}

The "Risk Response Network"{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/globalrisk/index.htm |title=Global Risks | World Economic Forum-Global Risks |work=Weforum.org |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=29 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201195909/http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/globalrisk/index.htm |archive-date=1 December 2010}} produces a yearly report assessing risks which are deemed to be within the scope of these teams, have cross-industry relevance, are uncertain, have the potential to cause upwards of US$10 billion in economic damage, have the potential to cause major human suffering, and which require a multi-stakeholder approach for mitigation.[http://www.weforum.org/pdf/globalrisk/2009.pdf Global Risk Report 2009] World Economic Forum {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225070901/http://www.weforum.org/pdf/globalrisk/2009.pdf |date=25 February 2009}}

In 2020, the forum published a report entitled Nature Risk Rising: Why the Crisis Engulfing Nature Matters for Business and the Economy.{{cite web |last1=Quinney |first1=Marie |title=COVID-19 and nature are linked. So should be the recovery. |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-nature-deforestation-recovery/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=3 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903213537/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-nature-deforestation-recovery |url-status=live }}{{cite book |title=WEF New Nature Economy Report 2020 |date=January 2020 |publisher=World Economic Forum |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_New_Nature_Economy_Report_2020.pdf |access-date=19 July 2020 |archive-date=23 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623204717/http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_New_Nature_Economy_Report_2020.pdf |url-status=live }} In this report the forum estimated that approximately half of global GDP is highly or moderately dependent on nature (the same as IPBES's 2019 assessment report{{Cite web |last=IPBES |date=2019-05-17 |title=Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services |url=https://www.ipbes.net/node/35274 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=www.ipbes.net |language=en |archive-date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130124254/https://www.ipbes.net/global-assessment |url-status=live }}). The report also found that 1 dollar spent on nature restoration yields 9 dollars in economic benefits.{{Cite journal |last=United Nations Environment Programme |date=2020 |title=The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: Strategy |url=https://wedocs.unep.org/xmlui/handle/20.500.11822/31813 |journal=The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: Strategy}}

On 19 January 2017 the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global initiative to fight epidemics, was launched at WEF in Davos. The internationally funded initiative aims at securing vaccine supplies for global emergencies and pandemics, and to research new vaccines for tropical diseases, that are now more menacing. The project is funded by private and governmental donors, with an initial investment of US$460m from the governments of Germany, Japan and Norway, plus the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.D. G. McNeil Jr (2017). [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/health/partnership-epidemic-preparedness.html?hpw&rref=health&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well Donors and Drug Makers Offer $500 Million to Control Global Epidemics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045140/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/18/health/partnership-epidemic-preparedness.html?hpw&rref=health&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well |date=1 December 2017 }}. The New York Times. accessed 20 January 2017.{{Anchor|EBP}}

Between 21 and 24 January 2020, at the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, CEPI met with leaders from Moderna to establish plans for a COVID-19 vaccine at the Davos gathering,{{cite web |title=What we know about the Wuhan coronavirus and urgent plans to develop a vaccine for it |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/wuhan-coronavirus-china-cepi-vaccine-davos/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=9 September 2020 |language=en |archive-date=26 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200826142434/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/wuhan-coronavirus-china-cepi-vaccine-davos/ |url-status=live }} with a total global case number of 274 and total loss of life the virus at 16.{{cite web |title=WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard |url=https://covid19.who.int/ |website=covid19.who.int |access-date=9 September 2020 |language=en |archive-date=16 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416183953/https://covid19.who.int/ |url-status=live }} The WHO declared a global health emergency 6 days later.{{cite news |title=WHO declares coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency |url=https://www.statnews.com/2020/01/30/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency |access-date=9 September 2020 |work=STAT |date=30 January 2020 |archive-date=9 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909231337/https://www.statnews.com/2020/01/30/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency/ |url-status=live }}

The Global Water Initiative brings together diverse stakeholders such as Alcan Inc., the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, USAID India, UNDP India, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Government of Rajasthan, and the NEPAD Business Foundation to develop public-private partnerships on water management in South Africa and India.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In an effort to combat corruption, the Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) was launched by CEOs from the engineering and construction, energy and metals, and mining industries at the annual meeting in Davos during January 2004. PACI is a platform for peer exchange on practical experience and dilemma situations. Approximately 140 companies have joined the initiative.{{cite book |title=The World Economic Forum – A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Global Governance |last=Pigman |first=Geoffrey Allen |page=115 |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-70204-1 |publisher=Routledge |location=London}}

{{Further|Business action on climate change}}

In the beginning of the 21st century, the forum began to increasingly deal with environmental issues.{{cite web |title=Environment and Natural Resource Security |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/archive/environment-and-natural-resource-security |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501030906/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/archive/environment-and-natural-resource-security |url-status=live }} In the Davos Manifesto 2020 it is said that a company among other:

• "acts as a steward of the environmental and material universe for future generations. It consciously protects our biosphere and champions a circular, shared and regenerative economy."
• "responsibly manages near-term, medium-term and long-term value creation in pursuit of sustainable shareholder returns that do not sacrifice the future for the present."
• "is more than an economic unit generating wealth. It fulfils human and societal aspirations as part of the broader social system. Performance must be measured not only on the return to shareholders, but also on how it achieves its environmental, social and good governance objectives."{{cite web |last=Schwab |first=Klaus |title=Davos Manifesto 2020: The Universal Purpose of a Company in the Fourth Industrial Revolution |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/davos-manifesto-2020-the-universal-purpose-of-a-company-in-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=10 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510170243/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/12/davos-manifesto-2020-the-universal-purpose-of-a-company-in-the-fourth-industrial-revolution/ |url-status=live }}

The Environmental Initiative covers climate change and water issues. Under the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change, the U.K. government asked the World Economic Forum at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles in 2005 to facilitate a dialogue with the business community to develop recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This set of recommendations, endorsed by a global group of CEOs, was presented to leaders ahead of the G8 Summit in Toyako, Hokkaido, Japan held in July 2008.Black, Richard (20 June 2008). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7464517.stm "Business Chiefs Urge Carbon Curbs"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923021238/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7464517.stm |date=23 September 2016}} BBC News. accessed 25 January 2011.Szabo, Michael (19 June 2008). [https://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1944804220080620?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews "Business Chiefs Call for G8 Climate Leadership"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131122901/https://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL1944804220080620?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews |date=31 January 2009}} Reuters. accessed 25 January 2011.

In 2016 WEF published an article in which it is said, that in some cases reducing consumption can increase well-being. In the article is mentioned that in Costa Rica the GDP is 4 times smaller than in many countries in Western Europe and North America, but people live longer and better. An American study shows that those whose income is higher than $75,000, do not necessarily have an increase in well-being. To better measure well-being, the New Economics Foundation's launched the Happy Planet Index.{{cite web |last1=Belton |first1=Teresa |title=Why becoming a 'happily modest consumer' could help save the planet |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/12/want-to-protect-the-planet-pursue-personal-happiness |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518094158/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/12/want-to-protect-the-planet-pursue-personal-happiness |url-status=live }}

In January 2017, WEF launched the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), which is a global public private partnership seeking to scale circular economy innovations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weforum.org/projects/circular-economy/|title=Circular Economy|website=World Economic Forum|access-date=7 December 2019|archive-date=17 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817095101/https://www.weforum.org/projects/circular-economy|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://toplink.weforum.org/knowledge/insight/a1Gb0000000pTDMEA2/explore/summary|title=TopLink|website=toplink.weforum.org|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402055419/https://toplink.weforum.org/knowledge/insight/a1Gb0000000pTDMEA2/explore/summary|url-status=live}} PACE is co-chaired by Frans van Houten (CEO of Philips), Naoko Ishii (CEO of the Global Environment Facility, and the head of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).{{Cite web|url=https://www.acceleratecirculareconomy.org/|title=Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy|website=Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402084939/https://www.acceleratecirculareconomy.org/|url-status=live}} The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the International Resource Panel, Circle Economy, Chatham House, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, the United Nations Environment Programme and Accenture serve as knowledge partners, and the program is supported by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DSM, FrieslandCampina, Global Affairs Canada, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rabobank, Shell, SITRA, and Unilever.{{Cite web |title=Members |url=https://pacecircular.org/partners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418213020/https://pacecircular.org/partners |archive-date=2022-04-18 |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=PACE |language=en}}

The Forum emphasized its 'Environment and Natural Resource Security Initiative' for the 2017 meeting to achieve inclusive economic growth and sustainable practices for global industries. With increasing limitations on world trade through national interests and trade barriers, the WEF has moved towards a more sensitive and socially-minded approach for global businesses with a focus on the reduction of carbon emissions in China and other large industrial nations.[https://www.weforum.org/system-initiatives/environment-and-natural-resource-security Shaping the Future of Environment and Natural Resource Security] The World Economic Forum Davos 2017. accessed 16 January 2017 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711144259/https://www.weforum.org/system-initiatives/environment-and-natural-resource-security |date=11 July 2017 }}

Also in 2017, WEF launched the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) for the Earth Initiative, a collaboration among WEF, Stanford University and PwC, and funded through the Mava Foundation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.waterbriefing.org/home/technology-focus/item/14404-new-global-initiative-to-help-harness-4ir-technologies-to-tackle-environmental-issues|title=New global initiative will help harness 4IR technologies tackle environmental issues|last=|date=21 September 2017|work=Waterbriefing|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309013209/https://www.waterbriefing.org/home/technology-focus/item/14404-new-global-initiative-to-help-harness-4ir-technologies-to-tackle-environmental-issues|url-status=live}} In 2018, WEF announced that one project within this initiative was to be the Earth BioGenome Project, the aim of which is to sequence the genomes of every organism on Earth.{{Cite news|url=http://www.drugdevelopment-technology.com/news/project-sequence-genomes-earth-begin-amazon-rainforest/|title=Project to sequence all genomes on Earth to begin in Amazon rainforest|last=Casey|first=JP|date=25 January 2018|work=Drug Development Technology|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127020517/http://www.drugdevelopment-technology.com/news/project-sequence-genomes-earth-begin-amazon-rainforest/|url-status=live}}

The World Economic Forum is working to eliminate plastic pollution, stating that by 2050 it will consume 15% of the global carbon budget and will pass by its weight fishes in the world's oceans. One of the methods is to achieve circular economy.{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Kristin |title=3 ways we are making an impact on plastic pollution |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/09/we-created-an-initiative-to-fight-plastic-waste-here-are-3-takeaways-from-our-first-year/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=9 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509020530/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/09/we-created-an-initiative-to-fight-plastic-waste-here-are-3-takeaways-from-our-first-year/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Rooney |first1=Katharine |title=The story of two brothers who travelled through a river of trash and inspired a nation |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-does-indonesia-deal-with-plastic-pollution/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=27 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427165708/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-does-indonesia-deal-with-plastic-pollution/ |url-status=live }}

The theme of the 2020 World Economic Forum annual meeting was 'Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World'. Climate change and sustainability were central themes of discussion. Many argued that GDP is failed to represent correctly the wellbeing and that fossil fuel subsidies should be stopped. Many of the participants said that a better capitalism is needed. Al Gore summarized the ideas in the conference as: "The version of capitalism we have today in our world must be reformed".{{cite news |last1=Worland |first1=Justin |title=How Davos Became a Climate Change Conference |url=https://time.com/5771889/davos-climate-change/ |access-date=31 January 2020 |agency=Times |date=27 January 2020 |archive-date=29 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129005952/https://time.com/5771889/davos-climate-change/ |url-status=live }}

In this meeting the World Economic Forum:

• Launched the Trillion Tree Campaign an initiative aiming to "grow, restore and conserve 1 trillion trees over the next 10 years around the world – in a bid to restore biodiversity and help fight climate change". Donald Trump joined the initiative. The forum stated that: "Nature-based solutions – locking-up carbon in the world's forests, grasslands and wetlands – can provide up to one-third of the emissions reductions required by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement targets," adding that the rest should come from the heavy industry, finance and transportation sectors. One of the targets is to unify existing reforestation projects{{cite web |last1=Pomeroy |first1=Robin |title=One trillion trees – World Economic Forum launches plan to help nature and the climate |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/one-trillion-trees-world-economic-forum-launches-plan-to-help-nature-and-the-climate |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=12 March 2020 |archive-date=12 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312004502/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/one-trillion-trees-world-economic-forum-launches-plan-to-help-nature-and-the-climate/ |url-status=live }}
• Discussed the issue of climate change and called to expanding renewable energy, energy efficiency change the patterns of consumption and remove carbon from the atmosphere. The forum concluded that the climate crisis will become a climate apocalypse should the temperature rise by 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The forum called on governments to fulfil the commitments in Paris Agreement. Jennifer Morgan, special representative for international climate policy of the Federal Foreign Office in Germany, said that as to the beginning of the forum, fossil fuels still get three times more money than climate solutions.{{cite web |last1=Pomeroy |first1=Robin |title=What you need to know about Davos 2020: How to save the planet |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-to-save-the-planet-davos-climate-pollution-what-to-know/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=3 May 2020 |archive-date=9 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509084225/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/how-to-save-the-planet-davos-climate-pollution-what-to-know/ |url-status=live }}

At the 2021 annual meeting UNFCCC launched the 'UN Race-to-Zero Emissions Breakthroughs'. The aim of the campaign is to transform 20 sectors of the economy in order to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions. At least 20% of each sector should take specific measures, and 10 sectors should be transformed before COP 26 in Glasgow. According to the organizers, 20% is a tipping point, after which the whole sector begins to irreversibly change.{{cite web |title=Launch of UN Race-to-Zero Emissions Breakthroughs |url=https://unfccc.int/news/launch-of-un-race-to-zero-emissions-breakthroughs |website=United Nations Climate Change |publisher=United Nations |access-date=21 February 2021 |archive-date=21 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221202833/https://unfccc.int/news/launch-of-un-race-to-zero-emissions-breakthroughs |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Transforming our systems together |url=https://racetozero.unfccc.int/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Race-to-Zero-Breakthroughs-Transforming-Our-Systems-Together.pdf |website=Race-to-Zero-Breakthroughs |publisher=United Nations |access-date=21 February 2021 |archive-date=9 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209094037/https://racetozero.unfccc.int/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Race-to-Zero-Breakthroughs-Transforming-Our-Systems-Together.pdf |url-status=live }}

In April 2020, the forum published an article that postulates that the COVID-19 pandemic is linked to the destruction of nature. The number of emerging diseases is rising and this rise is linked to deforestation and species loss. In the article, there are multiple examples of the degradation of ecological systems caused by humans. It is also says that half of the global GDP is moderately or largely dependent on nature. The article concludes that the recovery from the pandemic should be linked to nature recovery.

The forum proposed a plan for a green recovery. The plan includes advancing circular economy. Among the mentioned methods, there is green building, sustainable transport, organic farming, urban open space, renewable energy and electric vehicles.{{cite web |last=Bleischwitz |first=Raimund |title=COVID-19: 5 ways to create a green recovery |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/five-ways-to-kickstart-a-green-recovery/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=19 July 2020 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804181309/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/five-ways-to-kickstart-a-green-recovery |url-status=live }}

The Global Shapers Community (GSC), an initiative of World Economic Forum, selects young leaders below 30 years old to be change agents in the world.{{Cite web|title=Global Shapers|url=https://www.globalshapers.org/|access-date=26 December 2020|website=Global Shapers|language=en|archive-date=26 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226062552/https://www.globalshapers.org/|url-status=live}} Global Shapers develop and lead their city-based hubs to implement social justice projects that advance the mission of World Economic Forum. The GSC has over 10,000 members in 500+ hubs in 154 countries. Some critics see the WEF's increasing focus on activist areas such as environmental protection{{cite web |title=Environment and Natural Resource Security |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/archive/environment-and-natural-resource-security |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=2020-05-03 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501030906/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/archive/environment-and-natural-resource-security |url-status=live }} and social entrepreneurship{{Cite web|url=https://www.schwabfound.org/|title=Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship|website=Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship|access-date=16 April 2022|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416115034/https://www.schwabfound.org/|url-status=live}} as a strategy to disguise the true plutocratic goals of the organisation.{{Cite web | title = The high priests of plutocracy all meet in Davos. What good can come from that? | url = https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/25/davos-world-economic-forum-capitalism-plutocracy | work = The Guardian | date = 2020-01-25 | access-date = 2021-09-24 | archive-date = 24 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210924150239/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/25/davos-world-economic-forum-capitalism-plutocracy | url-status = live }}{{citation |author=Steven Umbrello |title=Should We Reset? A review of Klaus Schwab and Thierry Malleret's 'COVID-19: The Great Reset'}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cicero.de/wirtschaft/meinungsherrschaft-ziemlich-verstiegen|title=Dominion of Opinion – Quite Defective|website=Cicero Online|language=en|access-date=12 August 2021|archive-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812143340/https://www.cicero.de/wirtschaft/meinungsherrschaft-ziemlich-verstiegen|url-status=live}}

{{main|The Great Reset}}

In May 2020, the WEF and the Prince of Wales's Sustainable Markets Initiative launched "The Great Reset" project, a five-point plan to enhance sustainable economic growth following the global recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/03/pandemic-is-chance-to-reset-global-economy-says-prince-charles|title=Pandemic is chance to reset global economy, says Prince Charles|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Phillip|last=Inman|date=3 June 2020|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-date=17 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117152600/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/03/pandemic-is-chance-to-reset-global-economy-says-prince-charles|url-status=live}} "The Great Reset" was to be the theme of WEF's annual meeting in August 2021.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-30 |title=About {{!}} World Economic Forum |url=https://www.weforum.org/great-reset/about |access-date=2022-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730063939/https://www.weforum.org/great-reset/about |archive-date=30 July 2020 }}

According to forum founder Schwab, the intention of the project is to reconsider the meaning of capitalism and capital. While not abandoning capitalism, he proposes to change and possibly move on from some aspects of it, including neoliberalism and free-market fundamentalism. The role of corporations, taxation and more should be reconsidered. International cooperation and trade should be defended and the Fourth Industrial Revolution also.{{cite web |last=Schwab |first=Klaus |title=We must move on from neoliberalism in the post-COVID era |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/coronavirus-covid19-recovery-capitalism-environment-economics-equality/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=5 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705195322/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/coronavirus-covid19-recovery-capitalism-environment-economics-equality/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=The world must move on from neoliberalism after the pandemic |url=https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/videos/215228153695155/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=2 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502024255/https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/videos/215228153695155/ |url-status=live }}

The forum defines the system that it wants to create as "Stakeholder Capitalism". The forum supports trade unions.{{cite web |title=How trade unions lift workers wage |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/12/stakeholder-capitalism-episode-2-an-economy-that-works-for-workers/ |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=11 April 2022 |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411070817/https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/12/stakeholder-capitalism-episode-2-an-economy-that-works-for-workers/ |url-status=live }}

The 'Great Reset' has also been the target of several debunked conspiracy theories, which heavily overlap with related conspiracy theories concerning the 'New World Order', Qanon, and COVID-19.

File:Demo-gegen-wef.jpg, 2006]]

During the late 1990s, the WEF, as well as the G7, World Bank, World Trade Organization, and International Monetary Fund, came under heavy criticism by anti-globalization activists who asserted that capitalism and globalization were increasing poverty and destroying the environment. In 2000, about 10,000 demonstrators disrupted a regional WEF meeting in Melbourne, by obstructing the path of 200 delegates.Barret, Bernard (15 November 2000). [http://www.australianpolitics.com/pg/groups/barrett-s11-report-2000.shtml "Beating Up – A Report on Police Batons and the News Media at the World Economic Forum, Melbourne, September 2000"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926220221/http://www.australianpolitics.com/pg/groups/barrett-s11-report-2000.shtml |date=26 September 2011}}. [Australian Politics]. accessed 24 August 2011. Small demonstrations are held in Davos on most but not all years, organised by the local Green Party (see Anti-WEF protests in Switzerland, January 2003) to protest against what have been called the meetings of "fat cats in the snow", a tongue-in-cheek term used by rock singer Bono.Noon, Chris (21 January 2006). [https://www.forbes.com/facesinthenews/2006/01/26/bono-davos-red-cx_cn_0126autofacescan02.html "Bono Teams Up With Amex, Gap For Product Red"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908033533/http://www.forbes.com/facesinthenews/2006/01/26/bono-davos-red-cx_cn_0126autofacescan02.html |date=8 September 2008}}. Forbes. accessed 25 January 2011.

After 2014, the physical protest movement against the World Economic Forum largely died down, and Swiss police noted a significant decline in attending protesters, 20 at most during the meeting in 2016. While protesters are still more numerous in large Swiss cities, the protest movement itself has undergone significant change.C. Thumshirn (2017). [http://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/wef-2017/protest-im-wandel-das-wef-ohne-gegner-ld.139155 Warum das WEF keine Demonstranten mehr anlockt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117152100/http://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/wef-2017/protest-im-wandel-das-wef-ohne-gegner-ld.139155 |date=17 January 2017 }}(in German). Neue Zürcher Zeitung. accessed 17 January 2017. Around 150 Tibetans and Uighurs protested in Geneva and 400 Tibetans in Bern against the visit of China's paramount leader Xi Jinping for the 2017 meeting, with subsequent confrontations and arrests.[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/xi-s-visit_tibetans-and-uighurs-protest-in-geneva/42860126 Tibetans and Uighurs protest in Geneva] SWI swissinfo.ch (Politics-Conflict). accessed 22 January 2017 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120115050/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/xi-s-visit_tibetans-and-uighurs-protest-in-geneva/42860126 |date=20 January 2017 }}

A number of NGOs have used the World Economic Forum to highlight growing inequalities and wealth gaps, which they consider to have been neglected, or even to be exacerbated, through institutions like the WEF. Winnie Byanyima, the former executive director of the anti-poverty confederation Oxfam International co-chaired the 2015 meeting, where she presented a critical report of global wealth distribution based on statistical research by the Credit Suisse Research Institute. In this study, the richest 1% of people in the world own 48% of the world's wealth.Vara, Vauhini (January 2015). [https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/critics-oxfams-poverty-statistics-missing-point Critics of Oxfam's Poverty Statistics Are Missing the Point] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202164133/https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/critics-oxfams-poverty-statistics-missing-point |date=2 February 2019 }}. The New Yorker. accessed 27 January 2019. At the 2019 meeting, she presented another report in which she stated that the gap between rich and poor has widened. The report "Public Good or Private Wealth" stated that 2,200 billionaires worldwide saw their wealth grow by 12% while the poorest half saw its wealth fall by 11%. Oxfam calls for a global tax overhaul to increase and harmonise global tax rates for corporations and wealthy individuals.{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Chloe |date=January 2019 |url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/1/22/18192774/oxfam-inequality-report-2019-davos-wealth |title=Richest 26 people now own same wealth as poorest half of the world, Oxfam claims |work=cnbc.com |access-date=27 January 2019}}

"You'll own nothing and be happy" is a phrase adapted from an essay written by Ida Auken in 2016 for the WEF, pondering a future in which urban residents would rely on shared services for many expensive items such as appliances and vehicles. Shortly after its publication, a commentator for European Digital Rights criticized Auken's vision of centralized property ownership as a "benevolent dictatorship".{{cite web |last1=McNamee |first1=Joe |title=ENDitorial: Happiness – owning nothing and having no privacy? |url=https://edri.org/our-work/enditorial-happiness-owning-nothing-no-privacy/ |website=European Digital Rights (EDRi) |access-date=11 August 2023 |archive-date=29 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529180548/https://edri.org/our-work/enditorial-happiness-owning-nothing-no-privacy/ |url-status=live }} During the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase went viral, eliciting strongly negative reactions from mostly conservative but also some left-wing and unaffiliated commentators.{{cite news |last1=Bronitsky |first1=Jonathan |title=Global Elites: 'No Money, No Problems' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/global-elites-no-money-no-problems-opinion-1755651 |access-date=March 19, 2023 |work=Newsweek |date=November 1, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811021553/https://www.newsweek.com/global-elites-no-money-no-problems-opinion-1755651 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Geraghty |first1=Jim |title=Davos Elites Try to Save the World while Ignoring Actual Threats |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/davos-elites-try-to-save-the-world-while-ignoring-actual-threats/ |access-date=March 19, 2023 |work=National Review |date=January 17, 2023 |archive-date=2 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802103936/https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/davos-elites-try-to-save-the-world-while-ignoring-actual-threats/ |url-status=live }} Responding to viral social media posts based on the phrase, the WEF denied that it had a goal related to limiting ownership of private property.{{cite news |title=Fact check: The World Economic Forum does not have a stated goal to have people own nothing by 2030 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-wef-idUSKBN2AP2T0 |access-date=March 19, 2023 |work=Reuters |date=February 25, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525140854/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-wef-idUSKBN2AP2T0 |url-status=live }}

Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian invited to a 2018 WEF panel on inequality, went viral when he suggested that the best way for the attendees to attack inequality was to stop avoiding taxes.{{Cite news |date=2019-01-30 |title='This is not rocket science': Rutger Bregman tells Davos to talk about tax – video |language=en-GB |work=the Guardian |url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/video/2019/jan/30/this-is-not-rocket-science-rutger-bregman-tells-davos-to-talk-about-tax-video |access-date=2023-08-13 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=23 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623143504/https://www.theguardian.com/business/video/2019/jan/30/this-is-not-rocket-science-rutger-bregman-tells-davos-to-talk-about-tax-video |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Elliott |first=Larry |last2= |first2= |date=2019-02-01 |title='This is about saving capitalism': the Dutch historian who savaged Davos elite |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/01/rutger-bregman-world-economic-forum-davos-speech-tax-billionaires-capitalism |access-date=2023-08-13 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=13 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813221814/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/01/rutger-bregman-world-economic-forum-davos-speech-tax-billionaires-capitalism |url-status=live }} Bregman described his motivation, saying "it feels like I’m at a firefighters’ conference and no one’s allowed to speak about water".

{{Main|Global elite}}

{{Anchor|Davos Man|"Davos Man"}}

The formation of a detached elite, sometimes labeled with the neologism "Davos Man", refers to a global group whose members view themselves as completely "international". The term refers to people who "have little need for national loyalty, view national boundaries as obstacles, and see national governments as residues from the past whose only useful function is to facilitate the elite's global operations" according to political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, who is credited with inventing the neologism.Timothy Garton Ash. [https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,1404411,00.html Davos man's death wish] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821094256/http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0%2C%2C1404411%2C00.html |date=21 August 2008}}, The Guardian, 3 February 2005 In his 2004 article "Dead Souls: The Denationalization of the American Elite", Huntington argues that this international perspective is a minority elitist position not shared by the nationalist majority of the people.Samuel Huntington. [http://nationalinterest.org/article/dead-souls-the-denationalization-of-the-american-elite-620 "Dead Souls: The Denationalization of the American Elite"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914184047/http://nationalinterest.org/article/dead-souls-the-denationalization-of-the-american-elite-620 |date=14 September 2016}}, The National Interest, Spring 2004

The Transnational Institute describes the World Economic Forum's main purpose as being "to function as a socializing institution for the emerging global elite, globalization's "Mafiocracy" of bankers, industrialists, oligarchs, technocrats and politicians. They promote common ideas, and serve common interests: their own."{{cite web |last1=Marshall |first1=Andrew |title=World Economic Forum: A History and Analysis |url=https://www.tni.org/en/article/world-economic-forum-a-history-and-analysis |website=The Transnational Institute |date=20 January 2015 |access-date=9 August 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809055744/https://www.tni.org/en/article/world-economic-forum-a-history-and-analysis |url-status=live }}

In 2019, the Manager Magazin journalist Henrik Müller argued that the "Davos Man" had already decayed into different groups and camps. He saw three central drivers for this development:{{Cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://www.manager-magazin.de/politik/weltwirtschaft/wef-in-davos-weltwirtschaftsforum-und-seine-probleme-a-1248970.html&prev=search|title="Davos Man" and his successors|first=Henrik|last=Müller|date=21 January 2019 |access-date=14 June 2020|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614163618/https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=https://www.manager-magazin.de/politik/weltwirtschaft/wef-in-davos-weltwirtschaftsforum-und-seine-probleme-a-1248970.html&prev=search|url-status=live}}

• Ideologically: the liberal western model was no longer considered a universal role model that other countries strive for (with China's digital totalitarianism or the traditional absolutism in the Persian Gulf as counter-proposals, all of which ware represented by government members in Davos).
• Socially: societies increasingly disintegrated into different groups, each of which evoked its own identity (e.g. embodied through the Brexit vote or congressional blockades in the USA).
• Economically: the measured economic reality largely contradicted the established ideas of how the economy should actually work (despite economic upswings, wages and prices e.g. barely rose).

File:Civil Defense Police (8419542894).jpg

Critics argue that the WEF, despite having reserves of several hundred million Swiss francs and paying its executives salaries of around 1 million Swiss francs per year, would not pay any federal tax and moreover allocate a part of its costs to the public.{{Cite web|url=https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/geld-fuer-sicherheit-am-wef-knurrende-zustimmung-vom-staenderat-zu-wef-geldern|title=Geld für Sicherheit am WEF – Knurrende Zustimmung vom Ständerat zu WEF-Geldern|date=11 June 2021|website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF)|access-date=13 July 2021|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713084558/https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/geld-fuer-sicherheit-am-wef-knurrende-zustimmung-vom-staenderat-zu-wef-geldern|url-status=live}} Following massive criticism from politicians and Swiss civil society, the Swiss federal government decided in February 2021 to reduce its annual contributions to the WEF.{{cite news |title=Bundesrat streicht dem WEF Geld |trans-title=Federal Council cancels WEF funding |url=https://www.suedostschweiz.ch/politik/2021-02-24/bundesrat-streicht-dem-wef-geld |work=Die Südostschweiz |agency=sda |date=24 February 2021 |language=de |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=12 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712121842/https://www.suedostschweiz.ch/politik/2021-02-24/bundesrat-streicht-dem-wef-geld |url-status=live }}

As of 2018, the police and military expenditures carried by the federal government stood at 39 million Swiss francs.[https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/abstimmungen/abstimmungen/abstimmungen-davos/davos-stimmt-ab-mehr-geld-fuer-das-wef Davos stimmt ab – Mehr Geld für das WEF](in German) SRF.ch. accessed 23 January 2019 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223146/https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/abstimmungen/abstimmungen/abstimmungen-davos/davos-stimmt-ab-mehr-geld-fuer-das-wef |date=23 January 2019 }} The Aargauer Zeitung argued in January 2020 that the additional cost borne by the Kanton Graubünden stands at CHF 9 million per year.{{Cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aargauerzeitung.ch%2Fschweiz%2Fdas-reiche-wef-waelzt-kosten-fuer-die-sicherheit-auf-bund-und-kantone-ab-das-stoesst-auf-kritik-136222933&prev=search|title=Das reiche WEF wälzt Kosten für die Sicherheit auf Bund und Kantone ab – das stösst auf Kritik|first=Lucien|last=Fluri|access-date=14 June 2020|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614164950/https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/schweiz/das-reiche-wef-waelzt-kosten-fuer-die-sicherheit-auf-bund-und-kantone-ab-das-stoesst-auf-kritik-136222933&prev=search|url-status=live}}

The Swiss Green Party summarised their criticism within the Swiss National Council that the holding of the World Economic Forum has cost Swiss taxpayers hundreds of millions of Swiss francs over the past decades. In their view, it was however questionable to what extent the Swiss population or global community benefit from these expenditures.{{Cite web|url=https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20203289|title=20.3289 {{!}} Was nützt das WEF der Schweizer Bevölkerung?|website=Das Schweizer Parlament|language=de|access-date=25 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725104724/https://www.parlament.ch/de/ratsbetrieb/suche-curia-vista/geschaeft?AffairId=20203289|url-status=live}}

{{further|Gender bias}}

Women have been broadly underrepresented at the WEF, according to some critics. The female participation rate at the WEF increased from 9% to 15% between 2001 and 2005. In 2016, 18% of the WEF attendees were female; this number increased to 21% in 2017, and 24% in 2020.A. Gibbs (2017). [https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/16/as-world-leaders-descend-upon-wef-2017-in-davos-the-gender-debate-rumbles-on.html As world leaders descend upon Davos, the gender debate rumbles on] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020170507/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/16/as-world-leaders-descend-upon-wef-2017-in-davos-the-gender-debate-rumbles-on.html |date=20 October 2017 }} CNBC News. accessed 17 January 2017.A. Gibbs (2017). [https://qz.com/1529366/the-percentage-of-women-at-davos-is-greater-than-ever-before/ The percentage of women at Davos is greater than ever before] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823223152/https://qz.com/1529366/the-percentage-of-women-at-davos-is-greater-than-ever-before/ |date=23 August 2019 }} Quartz. accessed 19 November 2019.

Several women have since shared their personal impressions of the Davos meetings in media articles, highlighting that issues were more profound than "a quota at Davos for female leaders or a session on diversity and inclusion".{{cite web |website=BuzzFeed News |access-date=19 May 2020 |title=What It's Like To Be A Woman At The Old Boys Economic Forum |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mariahsummers/what-its-like-to-be-a-woman-at-the-old-boys-economic-forum |first1=Mariah |last1=Summers |first2=Miriam |last2=Elder |date=26 January 2014 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809091340/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mariahsummers/what-its-like-to-be-a-woman-at-the-old-boys-economic-forum |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title='Horizontal trade' looks to upswing at Davos meet |last=Curtis |first=Malcom |website=The Local |access-date=19 May 2020 |url=https://www.thelocal.ch/20140121/horizontal-trade-looks-to-upswing-at-davos |date=21 January 2014 |archive-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615144255/https://www.thelocal.ch/20140121/horizontal-trade-looks-to-upswing-at-davos |url-status=live }}{{cite web | title = Davos: Impressions of a First-Time Attendee | website = The Journal Blog | access-date = 19 May 2020 | url = https://blog.usejournal.com/davos-283f7fe42c07 | first = Baillie | last = Aaron | date = 22 February 2019 | archive-date = 30 November 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231130124258/https://baillieaaron.medium.com/davos-283f7fe42c07 | url-status = live }} The World Economic Forum has in this context filed legal complaints against at least three investigative articles by reporters Katie Gibbons and Billy Kenber that were published by the British newspaper The Times in March 2020, with the articles still online as of January 2024.{{Cite news | url = https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/economics/article/dark-side-of-davos-den-of-prostitution-and-predators-c77qwzd0j | title = The dark side of Davos: A den of prostitution and predators | website = The Times | last1 = Kenber | first1 = Billy | last2 = Gibbons | first2 = Katie | date = 23 March 2020 | access-date = 6 May 2022 | archive-date = 26 May 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220526093309/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dark-side-of-davos-den-of-prostitution-and-predators-c77qwzd0j | url-status = live }}{{Cite news | url = https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/sex-relationships/article/davos-investigation-at-parties-and-events-men-tried-to-get-sex-m8w5fck89 | title = Davos investigation: At parties and events, men tried to get sex | last1 = Gibbons | first1 = Katie | last2 = Kenber | first2 = Billy | date = 23 March 2020 | access-date = 6 May 2022 | website = The Times | archive-date = 24 May 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220524095656/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/davos-investigation-at-parties-and-events-men-tried-to-get-sex-m8w5fck89 | url-status = live }}{{Cite news | website = The Times | url = https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/economics/article/businessman-left-davos-party-deciding-no-good-could-come-of-this-083s9hsnv | title = Davos investigation: Champagne flowed and music played as women greeted guests | last1 = Kenber | first1 = Billy | last2 = Gibbons | first2 = Katie | date = 24 March 2020 | access-date = 6 May 2022 | archive-date = 30 December 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211230161613/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/businessman-left-davos-party-deciding-no-good-could-come-of-this-083s9hsnv | url-status = live }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/economics/article/client-offered-me-prostitutes-at-davos-party-says-consultant-8n8k269m5|title=Client offered me prostitutes at Davos party, says consultant|first1=Billy|last1=Kenber|first2=Katie|last2=Gibbons|work=The Times|date=23 March 2020|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=25 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525075651/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/client-offered-me-prostitutes-at-davos-party-says-consultant-8n8k269m5|url-status=live}}

According to The Wall Street Journal, the WEF has had numerous accusations of workplace discrimination against women and Black people.{{Cite web|date=June 29, 2024|title=Behind Davos, Claims of a Toxic Workplace|first1=Shalini|last1=Ramachandran|first2=Khadeeja|last2=Safdar|access-date=June 29, 2024|website=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/business/world-economic-forum-klaus-schwab-discrimination-harassment-de285594?mod=mhp}}

According to the European Parliament's think tank, critics see the WEF as an instrument for political and business leaders to "take decisions without having to account to their electorate or shareholders".{{cite web | url = https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2016)573928 | title = The World Economic Forum: Influential and controversial | publisher = European Parliament Think Tank | date = 19 January 2016 | access-date = 19 May 2020 | archive-date = 21 October 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201021005028/https://europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2016)573928 | url-status = live }}

Since 2009, the WEF has been working on a project called the Global Redesign Initiative (GRI), which proposes a transition away from intergovernmental decision-making towards a system of multi-stakeholder governance. According to the Transnational Institute (TNI), the Forum is hence planning to replace a recognised democratic model with a model where a self-selected group of "stakeholders" make decisions on behalf of the people.{{cite web | url = https://www.tni.org/en/article/davos-and-its-danger-to-democracy | title = Davos and its danger to Democracy | publisher = Transnational Institute | date = 18 January 2016 | access-date = 17 August 2021 | archive-date = 17 August 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210817095449/https://www.tni.org/en/article/davos-and-its-danger-to-democracy | url-status = live }}

Some critics have seen the WEF's attention to goals like environmental protection and social entrepreneurship as mere window dressing to disguise its true plutocratic nature and goals.{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Frank A. |date=26 May 2021 |url=https://www.cicero.de/wirtschaft/meinungsherrschaft-ziemlich-verstiegen |title=Meinungsherrschaft – Ziemlich verstiegen |website=Cicero Online |language=de |access-date=12 August 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812143340/https://www.cicero.de/wirtschaft/meinungsherrschaft-ziemlich-verstiegen |url-status=live }} In a Guardian opinion piece, Cas Mudde said that such plutocrats should not be the group to have control over the political agendas and decide which issues to focus on and how to support them.{{cite web |last=Mudde |first=Cas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/25/davos-world-economic-forum-capitalism-plutocracy |title=The high priests of plutocracy all meet at Davos. What good can come from that? |website=The Guardian |date=25 January 2020 |access-date=24 September 2021 |archive-date=24 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924150239/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/25/davos-world-economic-forum-capitalism-plutocracy |url-status=live }} A writer in the German magazine Cicero saw the situation as academic, cultural, media and economic elites grasping for social power while disregarding political decision processes. A materially well-endowed milieu would in this context try to "cement its dominance of opinion and sedate ordinary people with maternalistic-paternalistic social benefits, so that they are not disturbed by the common people when they steer". The French Les Echos furthermore concludes that Davos "represents the exact values people rejected at the ballot box".{{Cite web|url=https://www.lesechos.fr/2017/01/davos-un-forum-remis-en-question-159369|title=Davos : un forum remis en question ?|date=18 January 2017|website=Les Echos|language=fr|access-date=15 August 2021|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815091055/https://www.lesechos.fr/2017/01/davos-un-forum-remis-en-question-159369|url-status=live}}

{{further|Financial transparency}}

In 2017, the former Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung journalist Jürgen Dunsch criticized that financial reports of the WEF were not very transparent since neither income nor expenditures were broken down. In addition, he outlined that the foundation capital was not quantified while the apparently not insignificant profits would be reinvested.{{cite news |last=Busse |first=Caspar |title=Das Weltwirtschaftsforum ist zu einer Geldmaschine geworden |trans-title=The World Economic Forum has become a money machine |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/davos-das-weltwirtschaftsforum-ist-zu-einer-geldmaschine-geworden-1.3334817 |work=Süddeutsche Zeitung |date=17 January 2017 |language=de |access-date=20 May 2020 |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805111333/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/davos-das-weltwirtschaftsforum-ist-zu-einer-geldmaschine-geworden-1.3334817 |url-status=live }}

Recent annual reports published by the WEF include a more detailed breakdown of its financials and indicate revenues of CHF 349 million for the year 2019 with reserves of CHF 310 million and a foundation capital of CHF 34 million. There are no further details provided to what asset classes or individual names the WEF allocates its financial assets of CHF 261 million.{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Annual_Report_18-19.pdf |title=Annual Report 2018–2019 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=2019 |access-date=9 July 2021 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514173922/https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Annual_Report_18-19.pdf |url-status=live }} From July 2019 to June 2020, the World Economic Forum has spent €250,000 on lobbying the European Union.{{Cite web |title=World Economic Forum {{!}} lobbyfacts |url=https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/world-economic-forum?rid=567538843366-43&sid=142243 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.lobbyfacts.eu}}

The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung criticised in this context that the WEF had turned into a "money printing machine", which is run like a family business and forms a comfortable way to make a living for its key personnel. The foundation's founder Klaus Schwab draws a salary of around one million Swiss francs per year.

In a request to the Swiss National Council, the Swiss Green Party criticised that invitations to the annual meeting and programmes of the World Economic Forum are issued according to unclear criteria. They highlight that "despots" such as the son of the former Libyan dictator Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi had been invited to the WEF and even awarded membership in the club of "Young Global Leaders". Even after the beginning of the Arab spring in December 2010 and related violent uprisings against despot regimes, the WEF continued to invite Gaddafi to its annual meeting.{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/gaddafi-s-son-to-get-wef-invitation/29133964|title=Gaddafi's son to get WEF invitation|date=29 December 2010 |access-date=1 August 2021|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801114449/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/gaddafi-s-son-to-get-wef-invitation/29133964|url-status=live|author-first1=Julia|author-last1=Slater}}

Critics emphasise that the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is counterproductive when combating pressing problems of humanity such as the climate crisis. Even in 2020, participants travelled to the WEF annual meeting in Davos on around 1,300 private jets while the total emissions burden from transport and accommodation were enormous in their view.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/24/billionaires-davos-climate-crisis-world-economic-forum|title=We can't trust the billionaires of Davos to solve a climate crisis they created | Payal Parekh|website=TheGuardian.com|date=24 January 2020|access-date=25 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725105938/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/24/billionaires-davos-climate-crisis-world-economic-forum|url-status=live}}

The World Economic Forum's "Global Redesign" report suggests to create "public-private" United Nations (UN) in which selected agencies operate and steer global agendas under shared governance systems.{{cite book |last=Martens |first=Jens |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-30469-0_12 |title=Sustainable Development Goals and Human Rights. Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Rights |chapter=The Role of Public and Private Actors and Means in Implementing the SDGs: Reclaiming the Public Policy Space for Sustainable Development and Human Rights |editor-last1=Kaltenborn |editor-first1=M. |editor-last2=Krajewski |editor-first2=M. |editor-last3=Kuhn |editor-first3=H. |publisher=Springer |location=Cham |year=2020 |volume=5 |pages=207–220 |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-30469-0_12 |isbn=978-3-030-30468-3 |s2cid=213580432 |access-date=17 August 2021 |archive-date=17 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817101705/https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-30469-0_12 |url-status=live }}

In September 2019, more than 400 civil society organizations and 40 international networks heavily criticised a partnership agreement between WEF and the United Nations and called on the UN secretary-general to end it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cognitoforms.com/MultistakeholderismActionGroup/CorporateCaptureOfGlobalGovernanceTheWorldEconomicForumWEFUNPartnershipAgreementIsADangerousThreatToUN|title=Corporate capture of global governance: The World Economic Forum (WEF)-UN partnership agreement is a dangerous threat to UN System|website=www.cognitoforms.com|access-date=14 August 2021|archive-date=22 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822032237/https://www.cognitoforms.com/MultistakeholderismActionGroup/CorporateCaptureOfGlobalGovernanceTheWorldEconomicForumWEFUNPartnershipAgreementIsADangerousThreatToUN|url-status=live}} They see such an agreement as a "disturbing corporate capture of the UN, which moved the world dangerously towards a privatised global governance".{{Cite web|url=http://fian.org/en/press-release/article/wef-takeover-of-un-strongly-condemned-2273|title=WEF takeover of UN strongly condemned|website=fian.org|date=16 January 2020 |access-date=15 August 2021|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815154607/https://fian.org/en/press-release/article/wef-takeover-of-un-strongly-condemned-2273|url-status=live}} The Dutch Transnational Institute think tank summarises that we are increasingly entering a world where gatherings such as Davos are "a silent global coup d'état" to capture governance.

In 2019, the Swiss newspaper WOZ received a refusal of its accreditation request for the annual meeting with the editors and subsequently accused the World Economic Forum of favoring specific media outlets. The newspaper highlighted that the WEF stated in its refusal message that it [the forum] prefers media outlets it works with throughout the year. WOZ deputy head Yves Wegelin called this a strange idea of journalism because in "journalism you don't necessarily have to work with large corporations, but rather critique them".{{Cite web|url=https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/weltwirtschaftsforum-in-davos-keine-akkreditierung-fuer.2907.de.html?dram:article_id=463879 |title=Weltwirtschaftsforum in Davos – Keine Akkreditierung für kritische Wochenzeitung |website=Deutschlandfunk} |date=20 November 2019 |language=de}}

In addition to economic policy, the WEF's agenda is in recent years increasingly focusing on positively connoted activist topics such as environmental protection and social entrepreneurship,{{cite web|title=Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship – Home|website=Schwabfound.org|publisher=|url=http://www.schwabfound.org/|format=|access-date=|last=|date=|year=|language=|pages=|quote=|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504005120/http://www.schwabfound.org/|url-status=live}} which critics see as a strategy to disguise the organisation's true plutocratic goals.{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/25/davos-world-economic-forum-capitalism-plutocracy | title = The high priests of plutocracy all meet in Davos. What good can come from that? |author-first1=Cas|author-last1=Mudde| work = The Guardian | date = 25 January 2020 | access-date = 24 September 2021 | archive-date = 24 September 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210924150239/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/25/davos-world-economic-forum-capitalism-plutocracy | url-status = live }}{{citation|surname1=Steven Umbrello|periodical=The Journal of Value Inquiry|title=Should We Reset? Eine Rezension von Klaus Schwab und Thierry Mallerets 'COVID-19: The Great Reset' |at=pp. 1–8|issn=1573-0492|pmc=7886645|date=17 February 2021|volume=56 |issue=4 |language=German|doi=10.1007/s10790-021-09794-1}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cicero.de/wirtschaft/meinungsherrschaft-ziemlich-verstiegen|title=Dominion of Opinion - Quite Degenerate|website=Cicero Online|language=en|access-date=12 August 2021|archive-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812143340/https://www.cicero.de/wirtschaft/meinungsherrschaft-ziemlich-verstiegen|url-status=live}}

In a December 2020 article by The Intercept, author Naomi Klein described that the WEF's initiatives like the "Great Reset" were simply a "coronavirus-themed rebranding" of things that the WEF was already doing and that it was an attempt by the rich to make themselves look good. In her opinion, "the Great Reset is merely the latest edition of this gilded tradition, barely distinguishable from earlier Davos Big Ideas.{{cite news |last1=Klein |first1=Naomi |title=The Great Reset Conspiracy Smoothie |url=https://theintercept.com/2020/12/08/great-reset-conspiracy/ |access-date=14 December 2020 |work=The Intercept |date=8 December 2020 |archive-date=13 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213162038/https://theintercept.com/2020/12/08/great-reset-conspiracy/ |url-status=live|quote=Writing about 'The Great Reset' is not easy. It has turned into a viral conspiracy theory purporting to expose something no one ever attempted to hide, most of which is not really happening anyway, some of which actually should.}}

Similarly, in his review of COVID-19: The Great Reset, ethicist Steven Umbrello makes parallel critiques of the agenda. He says that the WEF "whitewash[es] a seemingly optimistic future post-Great Reset with buzz words like equity and sustainability" while it functionally jeopardizes those goals.{{Cite journal|last=Umbrello|first=Steven|date=17 February 2021|title=Should We Reset? A Review of Klaus Schwab and Thierry Malleret's 'COVID-19: The Great Reset'|url= |journal=The Journal of Value Inquiry|volume=56 |issue=4 |pages=693–700|language=en|doi=10.1007/s10790-021-09794-1|issn=1573-0492|pmc=7886645}}

A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research investigated the sociological impact of the WEF. It concluded that the WEF do not solve issues such as poverty, global warming, chronic illness, or debt. The Forum has, according to the study, simply shifted the burden for the solution of these problems from governments and business to "responsible consumers subjects: the green consumer, the health-conscious consumer, and the financially literate consumer."{{Cite news |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/677842 |title=Creating the Responsible Consumer: Moralistic Governance Regimes and Consumer Subjectivity |date=28 August 2021 |work=Blick |doi=10.1086/677842 |jstor=10.1086/677842 |language=en |last1=Giesler |first1=Markus |last2=Veresiu |first2=Ela |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=840–857 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828083124/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/677842 |url-status=live }}

In December 2021, the Catholic Cardinal and former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) Gerhard Ludwig Müller criticised in a controversial interview that people like WEF founder Schwab were sitting "on the throne of their wealth" and were not touched by the everyday difficulties and sufferings people face e.g. due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the contrary, such elites would see crises as an opportunity to push through their agendas. He particularly criticised the control such people would exercise on people and their embracement of areas such as transhumanism.{{cite web|title=Vatican Court judge criticizes Bill Gates, George Soros and Klaus Schwab for using Covid to impose 'total control' on population|periodical=The Rio Times|publisher=|url=https://www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/modern-day-censorship/vatican-court-judge-criticizes-bill-gates-george-soros-and-klaus-schwab-for-using-covid-to-impose-total-control-on-population/|format=|access-date=|last=The Rio Times|date=2021-12-14|language=en-US|pages=|quote=|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221040114/https://www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/modern-day-censorship/vatican-court-judge-criticizes-bill-gates-george-soros-and-klaus-schwab-for-using-covid-to-impose-total-control-on-population/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.oberhessische-zeitung.de/politik/ausland/kardinal-muller-und-die-verschworungsmythen_24989665 |title=Cardinal Müller and the conspiracy myths |date=13 December 2021 |language=en |access-date=19 December 2021 |archive-date=19 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219150400/https://www.oberhessische-zeitung.de/politik/ausland/kardinal-muller-und-die-verschworungsmythen_24989665 |url-status=live }} The German Central Council of Jews condemned this criticism, which is also linked to Jewish financial investors, as antisemitic.{{Cite news |last=Jansen |first=Thomas |title=Zentralrat der Juden wirft Kardinal Müller 'antisemitische Chiffren' vor |trans-title=Statement on Corona pandemic: Central Council of Jews accuses Cardinal Müller of "anti-Semitic ciphers" |newspaper=Faz.net |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/zentralrat-der-juden-kardinal-mueller-bedient-antisemitische-chiffren-17684690.html |access-date=19 December 2021 |language=de |archive-date=16 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216012643/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/zentralrat-der-juden-kardinal-mueller-bedient-antisemitische-chiffren-17684690.html |url-status=live }}

On the other hand, the WEF has been criticized as "hypocritical" towards Palestinian human rights, when it rejected a petition from its own constituents to condemn Israel's aggression against Palestinians.{{cite news |last1=Jamal |first1=Hebh |date=19 January 2023 |title=Ukraine a 'special case': Is the WEF 'hypocritical' on Palestine? |publisher=Al Jazeera English |agency=Al Jazeera English |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/19/ukraine-a-special-case-emails-show-wef-palestine-hypocrisy |url-status=live |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119063541/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/19/ukraine-a-special-case-emails-show-wef-palestine-hypocrisy |archive-date=19 January 2023}} WEF cited the need to remain "impartial" on the issue. However, Khaled Al Sabawi, writing in MondoWeiss called it hypocritical after it voluntarily condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine months later.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-01 |title=The World Economic Forum has outed itself as anti-Palestinian |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2023/03/the-world-economic-forum-has-outed-itself-as-anti-palestinian/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=Mondoweiss |language=en-US |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031151008/https://mondoweiss.net/2023/03/the-world-economic-forum-has-outed-itself-as-anti-palestinian/ |url-status=live }}

In June 2021, WEF founder Klaus Schwab sharply criticised what he characterized as the "profiteering", "complacency" and "lack of commitment" by the municipality of Davos in relation to the annual meeting. He mentioned that the preparation of the COVID-related meeting in Singapore in 2021/2022{{cite news |title=WEF Cancels Singapore Meeting as Pandemic Haunts Global Event |first=Catherine |last=Bosley |date=17 May 2021 |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-17/world-economic-forum-to-cancel-annual-meeting-in-singapore |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730163733/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-17/world-economic-forum-to-cancel-annual-meeting-in-singapore |url-status=live }} had created an alternative to its Swiss host and sees the chance that the annual meeting will stay in Davos between 40 and 70 per cent.{{Cite news |last=Pöschl |first=Fabian |url=https://www.20min.ch/story/wef-chef-droht-davos-wegen-ueberrissener-preise-917744096507 |title=WEF-Chef Klaus Schwab droht Davos wegen überrissener Preise |date=25 June 2021 |work=20 Minuten |language=de |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730163735/https://www.20min.ch/story/wef-chef-droht-davos-wegen-ueberrissener-preise-917744096507 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.blick.ch/wirtschaft/geschaeftemacherei-selbstzufriedenheit-wef-gruender-klaus-schwab-kritisiert-davos-scharf-id16627148.html |title=WEF-Gründer Klaus Schwab kritisiert Davos scharf |date=24 June 2021 |work=Blick |language=de |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730163734/https://www.blick.ch/wirtschaft/geschaeftemacherei-selbstzufriedenheit-wef-gruender-klaus-schwab-kritisiert-davos-scharf-id16627148.html |url-status=live }}

As there are many other international conferences nicknamed with "Davos" such as the "Davos of the Desert" event organised by Saudi Arabia's Future Investment Initiative Institute, the World Economic Forum objected to the use of "Davos" in such contexts for any event not organised by them.{{cite press release |title=World Economic Forum Objects to Misuse of the 'Davos' Brand |url=https://www.weforum.org/press/2018/10/world-economic-forum-objects-to-misuse-of-the-davos-brand/ |publisher=World Economic Forum |accessdate=24 October 2018 |date=22 October 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024192220/https://www.weforum.org/press/2018/10/world-economic-forum-objects-to-misuse-of-the-davos-brand/ |url-status=live }} This particular statement was issued on 22 October 2018, a day before the opening of 2018 Future Investment Initiative (nicknamed "Davos in the desert") organised by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.{{cite news |last1=Jakab |first1=Spencer |title=The Davos of Public Relations Disasters |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-davos-of-public-relations-disasters-1540222657 |accessdate=24 October 2018 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |date=22 October 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024002737/https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-davos-of-public-relations-disasters-1540222657 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Bosley |first1=Catherine |title=WEF Condemns Use of 'Davos' Label One Day Before Saudi Summit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-22/wef-condemns-use-of-davos-label-one-day-before-saudi-summit |accessdate=24 October 2018 |publisher=Bloomberg News |date=22 October 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024193608/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-22/wef-condemns-use-of-davos-label-one-day-before-saudi-summit |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Hassan |first1=Aisha |title=The organizers of Davos want nothing to do with Saudi Arabia's "Davos in the Desert" |url=https://qz.com/1432766/the-wef-wants-nothing-to-do-with-saudi-arabias-davos-in-the-desert/ |accessdate=24 October 2018 |work=Quartz |publisher=Quartz Media |date=23 October 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024192733/https://qz.com/1432766/the-wef-wants-nothing-to-do-with-saudi-arabias-davos-in-the-desert/ |url-status=live }}

Since the annual meeting in January 2003 in Davos, an Open Forum Davos,{{cite web |url=http://www.openforumdavos.ch/ |title=Open Forum Davos, Schweizerischer Evangelischer Kirchenbund |website=Openforumdavos.ch |access-date=7 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202022348/http://www.openforumdavos.ch/ |archive-date=2 February 2010 |url-status=dead}} which was co-organized by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, is held concurrently with the Davos forum, opening up the debate about globalization to the general public. The Open Forum has been held in the local high school every year, featuring top politicians and business leaders. It is open to all members of the public free of charge.{{cite book |title=The World Economic Forum – A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Global Governance |last=Pigman |first=Geoffrey Allen |page=130 |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-70204-1 |publisher=Routledge |location=London}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=78AB043A344C2C6A |title=Open Forum |publisher=YouTube |access-date=7 March 2010 |archive-date=25 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125214215/http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=78AB043A344C2C6A |url-status=live }}

The Public Eye Awards have been held every year since 2000. It is a counter-event to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Public Eye Awards is a "public competition of the worst corporations in the world." In 2011, more than 50,000 people voted for companies that acted irresponsibly. At a ceremony at a Davos hotel, the "winners" in 2011 were named as Indonesian palm oil diesel maker, Neste Oil in Finland, and mining company AngloGold Ashanti in South Africa.{{cite news |last=Lang |first=Olivia |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/davos/9379067.stm |title=BBC Davos Day three |publisher=BBC News |date=28 January 2011 |accessdate=29 November 2011 |archive-date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130124254/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/davos/9379067.stm |url-status=live }} According to Schweiz aktuell broadcast on 16 January 2015, a public presence during the WEF 2015, may not be guaranteed because the massively increased security in Davos. The Public Eye Award will be awarded for the last time in Davos: "Public Eyes says Goodbye to Davos", confirmed by Rolf Marugg (now Landrats politician), by not directly engaged politicians, and by the police responsible.[http://www.srf.ch/news/wirtschaft/wef-2015/wef-ohne-kritiker Gianluca Galgani: WEF ohne Kritiker] Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, 16 January 2016. accessed 20 January 2015 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804084820/http://www.srf.ch/news/wirtschaft/wef-2015/wef-ohne-kritiker |date=4 August 2016}}

{{Portal|Business and economics|Switzerland|Politics|World}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

• 2009 Davos incident
• Antalya Diplomacy Forum
• Asian Leadership Conference
• Bilderberg Meeting
• Boao Forum for Asia
• Davos process
• Eurofi
• European Business Summit
• Event 201
• Group of 3
• Horasis
• International Transport Forum
• St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
• World Knowledge Forum
• World Social Forum
• World Youth Forum
• Alliance for Responsible Citizenship
• St. Gallen Symposium{{Div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://99faces.tv/matthiasluefkens/ "How to Open the World Economic Forum"] – Matthias Lüfkens in interview with 99FACES.tv
• Bornstein, David (2007). How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. New York: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-19-533476-0}}. 358 pages.
• [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/12/60minutes/main6202302.shtml?tag=currentVideoInfo;segmentUtilities "Behind the Scenes at Davos"] broadcast 14 February 2010 on 60 Minutes, CBS News
• Kellerman, Barbara (1999). Reinventing Leadership: Making the Connection Between Politics and Business. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press. {{ISBN|978-0-7914-4071-1}}. 268 pages.
• Moore, Mike (2003). A World Without Walls: Freedom, Development, Free Trade and Global Governance. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-521-82701-0}}. 292 pages.
• Geoffrey Allen Pigman (2007). The World Economic Forum: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Global Governance. London; New York: Routledge. {{ISBN|978-0-415-70204-1}}. 175 pages.
• Rothkopf, David J. (2008). Superclass: The Global Power Elite and the World They Are Making. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. {{ISBN|978-0-374-27210-4}}. 376 pages.
• Schwab, Klaus M.; Hein Kroos (1971). Moderne Unternehmensführung im Maschinenbau. Frankfurt: Verein Dt. Maschinenbau-Anst. e.V. Maschinenbau-Verl. {{OCLC|256314575}}.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130407100645/http://www.weforum.org/reports/everybody%E2%80%99s-business-strengthening-international-cooperation-more-interdependent-world "Everybody's Business: Strengthening International Cooperation in a More Interdependent World"]—World Economic Forum; launched May 2010, Doha, Qatar
• Wolf, Michael (1999). The Entertainment Economy: How Mega-Media Forces Are Transforming Our Lives. New York: Random House. {{ISBN|978-0-8129-3042-9}}. 336 pages.

{{Spoken Wikipedia|World_Economic_Forum_1.ogg|date=29 January 2016}}

• {{Commons category-inline|World Economic Forum}}
• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.weforum.org/about/leadership-and-governance WEF Board of Trustees]
• [https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/the-great-reset-this-weeks-world-vs-virus-podcast/ "Klaus Schwab and Prince Charles on why we need a Great Reset"] at the World Economic Forum
• Klaus Schwab in [https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2017/sessions/86544 "A Conversation with Henry Kissinger on the World in 2017"] at the World Economic Forum

{{Belt and Road Initiative}}

{{Authority control}}

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