The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, is much more than an annual meeting in the Swiss Alps. For over five decades, it has brought together the world’s most influential political, business and social leaders to discuss and develop solutions to pressing global challenges.
In this article, we begin by exploring the origins and goals of the World Economic Forum, examine its historical milestones, and finally analyse the key issues discussed at the 2025 meeting, which took place from 20-24 January. More than 2,500 participants from business, politics, academia and culture attended this year’s meeting. What economic scenarios for 2025 can be derived from the results of Davos?
From Management Forum to Global Institution
Founded in 1971 by German economist Klaus Schwab, the World Economic Forum has evolved from a European management forum into a global institution with a mission to “improve the state of the world“. Originally launched as the “European Management Forum” to provide a platform for European executives to exchange ideas and learn from American management techniques, the first Davos conference attracted already 450 participants from 31 countries.
Today, Davos is a symbolic meeting place for the global elite. World leaders, CEOs of multinational corporations, leading scientists, representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and cultural figures gather here in an informal setting to discuss the future of the world. As well as being a forum for discussion, the World Economic Forum is also a platform for networking and forging important economic and political partnerships. Initiatives launched in Davos drive international cooperation.
“The World Economic Forum in Davos is committed to improve the state of the world.”
Schwab has a clear vision: “Stakeholder capitalism” is a central component of his philosophy, which he later elaborated in his book Stakeholder Capitalism (2021). The idea is simple: companies must take into account not only the interests of their shareholders but also those of their employees, suppliers and society as a whole. This principle of corporate social responsibility has become a defining theme of the World Economic Forum.
Davos was deliberately chosen to provide a secluded environment conducive to openness and collaboration. What began as an annual European gathering has grown into a global institution, officially renamed the World Economic Forum in 1987 to reflect its international significance.
Today, the World Economic Forum in Davos is the premier global forum where the world’s most influential people come together once a year. Through cooperation and shared values, they shape global developments. The WEF continually adapts to new challenges, adding new players and issues to its agenda.
Davos 2025: Collaboration for the Intelligent Age
The theme of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025 was “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”. It reflected the desire to discuss the opportunities and challenges of digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in a globalised world. In addition to the potential and risks of AI, many other topics were addressed. Here is an overview of the five central themes:
1. Geopolitics: Diplomacy and Conflict Management
Despite the alarming warnings of the Global Risks Report, which identified geopolitical conflict as the most immediate threat to 2025, diplomatic efforts dominated discussions. Speeches by world leaders were a central part of the meeting. The conflict in Ukraine was revisited, with President Zelenskyy calling for European support (Video). The Middle East conflict was also discussed, with cautious optimism about the ceasefire in Gaza.
The return of Donald Trump to the White House led to intense discussions on potential economic policy changes in the areas of tariffs, deregulation and energy. Trump himself spoke virtually from the US to four global CEOs, stressing the importance of job creation and business support in the US, with reactions to his policies ranging from concern to calls for calm.
2. Climate, Nature, and Energy: Pathways to Climate Neutrality
With 2024 confirmed as the hottest year on record, the climate crisis dominated the agenda. Scientists emphasised the direct impact of human activity on extreme weather events. Former US Vice President Al Gore (Video) highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that 175 million tonnes of greenhouse gases are emitted every day. A key theme was the balance between energy security and the necessary energy transition, with evidence suggesting that both can be achieved simultaneously.
3. Economic Growth and Finance: Debt, Inflation, and Trust
Economic uncertainty was a major theme. Experts warned of the risks of rising government debt and inflation. Also discussed was the future of the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency and the potential impact of Trump’s newly introduced cryptocurrency, the digital commemorative coin “Meme Coin $Trump”, on the financial system. The panellists highlighted the need for confidence in markets but warned against complacency.
4. Labor, Health, and Inclusion
This theme highlighted the importance of gender equality. A key finding was that investing in women’s health has a positive impact on economic growth. Equal participation of women could increase global GDP by 20%. Another point of discussion was how digital technologies can help create better health and education opportunities for young people.
The World Economic Outlook 2025
The World Economic Forum 2025 reaffirmed that global cooperation is the key to tackling the major challenges of our time. Despite geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties, the importance of diplomacy, trust and international cooperation was reinforced. Key takeaways from the closing discussion with global economic executives (Video) included:
- Geopolitical optimism: A ‘constructive optimism’ approach to geopolitics was emphasised to de-escalate conflicts and promote new cooperation.
- Challenges and opportunities for Europe: In the face of changes in the economic and technological environment, Europe will have to adapt. The need for greater integration and a more assertive stance was highlighted.
- Global challenges: Climate change, social inequality, and technological disruption require innovative solutions and global responsibility.
- The Importance of collaboration: Progress comes from business, government and civil society working together. The Forum reaffirmed that real change is only possible through collective action.
- Transparency, coherence, and accountability: The 2025 Annual Meeting underlined the importance of these principles in building trust in international institutions and promoting sustainable development.
Critical Voices on the World Economic Forum 2025
Despite many positive impulses, the WEF has been criticised for its elitist structures and lack of transparency. Many important meetings take place behind closed doors, fuelling speculation and conspiracy theories. Critics see the WEF25 as a “hotbed of neoliberalism” that favours corporate and financial elites over the broader population. Concerns have also been raised about the growing power of global financial oligarchies, with financial institutions acting as strategic partners of the WEF and exerting significant influence on economic policy decisions. NGOs have been critical of the lack of progress in addressing social inequality and have called for greater diversity and accountability at the WEF26.
In conclusion, the World Economic Forum 2025 demonstrated that constructive optimism and global cooperation are essential to address today’s challenges. At the same time, it highlighted the need for critical self-reflection to ensure broader societal acceptance and a more inclusive approach. An exciting year lies ahead, and it remains to be seen how the global community will evolve by the next Davos in 2026.
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Cover photo by Evangeline Shaw from unsplash.com
Sources:
5 takeaways from Davos 2025 | World Economic Forum
Davos: A history of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting | World Economic Forum
The Global Economic Outlook 2025 | World Economic Forum