The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting has proved its power time after time in setting the global agenda, identifying emerging issues and challenges, and engaging leaders from all walks of life in dialogue, initiative and action. In the same way, Global Agenda seeks to lead opinion and debate on all the key issues facing the world. It aims to be thought-provoking and controversial, but balanced and fair. And it tries to make room for voices from all sides of society. We live in deeply unsettled, challenging times. Many of the certainties on which we have come to depend in recent years are in doubt. In place of trust lie scepticism, suspicion and fear. It is more vital than ever that all sides of the debate are heard – from the worlds of business, civil society and government. Like the World Economic Forum itself, Global Agenda aims to be a forum for discussing issues, testing ideas and initiating change.
Crisis prevention in emerging markets has improved a good deal in recent years, says Josef Ackermann. But a stronger and more stable international financial system also needs better crisis management. – As we move towards our shared goal of a more stable financial system, we need a recipe for an institutional framework that fits the…
Nowhere in the world is the loss of faith in big business more evident than in developing countries. But multinational companies can do a great deal to improve local governance in these countries – and, in doing so, help their own interests. The world is coming out of a decade of enormous prosperity and success…
A company’s reputation as a corporate citizen will increasingly determine whether customers choose to do business with it or not, says Uwe Dörken. The logistics and transportation sector plays a fundamental role in economic development and as the enabler of global commerce. However, social and environmental topics such as climate change, oil tanker spills, airport…
What is the right way of aligning executive pay and shareholder value? First, say Orit Gadiesh, Marcia Blenko and Robin Buchanan, be clear about what really drives a company’s value. Second, link pay to successful strategy execution, as well as to outperforming peers in the stock market Sidney Taurel, CEO of the US pharmaceutical company…
Private ethics and public corporate integrity are indivisible, says Samuel DiPiazza. That is the key lesson of recent business scandals. What is necessary now is to establish codes and systems – both personal and corporate – that will spur courage and combat fear Private ethics used to be just that – a private matter. Ethics…
Corporate social responsibility should not be simply a reactive affair, say Rajat Gupta and Paul Coombes. Companies should become more proactive, engaging NGOs and other organizations in full debate and promoting the positive aspects of their agendas. In this way, they can turn corporate social responsibility to everyone’s advantage – After a year filled with…
Sustainable development and improved corporate governance will be the hallmarks of successful business in the 21st century. Those who ignore this trend risk a backlash from financial markets as much as from society itself. Robert Kinloch Massie reports on how the combined forces of two powerful investor movements are redefining investment risk and boardroom strategy…
After the recent scandals, only a complete overhaul of business ethics can restore the integrity of the corporate and financial worlds. What is needed, above all, is leadership. Jeffrey Garten spells out what needs to be done – and who needs to do it. – American business scandals have usually unfolded in a predictable pattern….
The recent lapses in corporate behaviour raise serious questions about the future of the democratic capitalist system. The responsibility now, says US secretary of commerce Donald Evans, is on CEOs to show by their actions that responsible corporate stewardship can be a force for good – and that capitalism works. – Each year, the World…
The global challenges of our times – whether political, economic or social – can be mastered only through intelligent, targeted and responsible international cooperation, says Heinrich von Pierer – The global economic and political situation is so deeply unsettled that it is virtually impossible to make reasonable forecasts for many markets. We face a daunting…
