Daily Davos: Inequality, science thinking

Here is your daily digest of news from, and about, the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2015.

Most shared today

Inequality and climate change: twin challenges of 2015. “Across rich and poor countries alike…inequality is fuelling conflict, corroding democracies and damaging growth itself,” says Davos Co-Chair Winnie Byanyima.

9 ways to pull our planet back from the brink. “Our global civilization is now in a danger zone.” Johan Rockström has a plan to bring us back from the edge.

On the Agenda

How can we create decent jobs in the digital age? No country can ignore the digital world without getting left out of the world economy, but the digital economy must be a sustainable one built on decent work which gives humans dignity.

What babies tell us about artificial intelligence. Computers can’t roll their eyes.

There is no school for CEOs. “Business must promote learning in their organizations, and individuals must seize opportunities to adapt to new roles throughout their careers.”

Business leaders should think like scientists. Scientists aren’t odd and peculiar, they are highly collaborative, keenly aware of the future implications of their work, and embrace change.

Can big data help us respond to disasters? What can we learn from the way corporations use big data to solve problems, and how could that be applied to causes like disaster relief?

The World Economic Forum in the news

Davos has been good at spotting mega trends. “The Alpine zeitgeist has a better track record when viewed from the perspective of the business community as a whole.” (New York Times)

Leaders to weigh The New Global Context at Davos. “The Forum has shifted over the years from being a convener of meetings to a think tank and has now become what you might call a do-tank.” (Globe and Mail)

The Forum is focusing on ten global challenges. “In Davos and beyond, leaders must come together and focus on their long-term impact.” (Guardian)

World Economic Forum to get back to basics. “Hosts at the WEF are keen for debate to return to the key international policy objectives for which the conference is best known.” (City A.M.)

What is the point of Davos? “Making 2015 the year of peak inequality. We need a global effort to end extreme inequality. The gap between rich and poor isn’t just a moral question, it damages the economy.” (Guardian)

5 things to know about the World Economic Forum. There were 444 participants at the first meeting in 1971. (USA Today)

The most challenging economic issue ahead. Growth for the middle classes in the industrial democracies, says Larry Summers. (Washington Post)

On our radar

Entrepreneurship and creativity gave Britain its industrial revolution. “For developing countries today, the implications are that costly investments in specialized human capital resources might be less important than incentives for creativity, flexibility, and the ability to make incremental adjustments that can transform existing technologies.”

Decision cascades in social networks. Successful information flows are all about timing.

Why extreme inequality hurts the rich. The BBC’s economics editor on why increases in inequality are troubling, and not just for those at the bottom of the income and wealth pyramid.

Explaining the global trade slowdown. The relationship between trade and GDP in the last four decades.

The secret to smart groups isn’t smart people. It’s women. How women might have the advantage over men in collaborative work settings.

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

Image: A Participant takes a picture of the Logo at the congress centre at the Annual Meeting 2015 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 19, 2015. WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM/swiss-image.ch/Photo Michael Buholzer