This week at the World Economic Forum: May 23

Welcome to this week’s update from the World Economic Forum.

Most shared this week

Our world has never grown so quickly, nor so unequally. So how can the benefits of East Asia’s growth be better shared?

Top 10 most gender equal countries in East Asia. The Philippines comes top in the region. (Report)

On Forum:Blog

“When there is no corruption, there will be no poverty.” Read the President of the Philippines’ opening address. Also: why good governance is good economics.

Three reasons Asia needs more women in the boardroom. They hold half the seats of their European and US peers and this has to change. Also: Yoko Ishikura says women should shatter stereotypes, not just the glass ceiling.

What’s the true cost of climate change? Filipinos know. WWF’s President on lessons from a storm-lashed country. Also: how tech is changing disaster relief, and recycling, Asian-style.

How can we strengthen trade in East Asia? At a time of geo-political tension, Thierry Geiger on why we must link markets. Also: the world’s most important trade route?

Slavery is a 21C nightmare. South Asia’s women are among the most vulnerable, writes Global Shaper Carine Kiala. Also: Elaine Dezenski on how the region’s youth are fighting corruption.

What jobs are four times better at lifting people out of poverty? Agricultural jobs. Food for thought from the Asian Development Bank.

The most important invention of the century? Is cheap as chips and changing everything, says Nathan Eagle.

Will China fall out of love with the car? John Moavenzadeh on the future of the automotive industry, as we publish a new report on travel.

The World Economic Forum in the news

Showcasing South-east Asia’s prospects for growth – by Philipp Rösler. (Straits Times)

From sickman to comeback kid, where the Philippine economy is now. (WSJ)

The new globalization is not about the West. “It is increasingly clear that globalization does not, in fact, require a Western anchor.” (BusinessWorld)

How to feed the world when the new generation doesn’t want to go into farming. (InterAksyon)

Thai unrest is one barrier to unlocking regional future. The fragility threat to Asia’s tiger economies. (The Nation)

Reading list

Bitcoin changes everything. “When we’re sitting here in 20 years, we’ll be talking about Bitcoin the way we talk about the Internet today.”

Democracy is not bad for economies. It actually boosts growth, and civil liberties are the most important part of what makes democracy so effective.

Lack of leadership is the real danger for Europe. Nicolas Sarkozy argues for a new, smaller Europe with tougher border controls and a Franco-German alliance at its heart. (Die Welt) (Le Pointe)

US interest rates: The potential shock heard around the world. (iMFdirect)

China’s slowing property market. It generates nearly one in six urban jobs. The slowdown could be problematic but not catastrophic.

The original social networkers? They had buzz in their genes.

Have something for our reading list? Drop me a line.

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On Forum:Blog next week – Europe after the elections. Until then, paalam mula sa Manila. Thanks for reading.

Author: Adrian Monck is Managing Director of Public Engagement at the World Economic Forum