Davos leaders "optimistic on economic growth" - "pessimistic on security"

Concern over environmental damage increases dramatically

Geneva, Switzerland, 22 January 2007 – A survey of participants of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which begins this Wednesday, has found that a majority of leaders questioned think the next generation will live in a more economically prosperous world. Two-thirds (65%) think it will be a lot more or a little more prosperous. But the same respondents also indicated that the next generation will live in a less safe world, with 61% believing it would be a little or a lot less safe. Both these figures are broadly in line with the same findings last year. But one finding that has shown a remarkable change is the doubling of those who rank environmental protection as a priority for world leaders. Warnings of the effects of climate change appear to be hitting home with protecting the environment a concern that one in five (20%) think leaders should concentrate on – a considerable increase since last year’s survey, when only 9% rated this as a priority.

Held under the theme "The Shifting Power Equation", the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2007 brings together 2,500 leaders from all walks of life to set the global agenda and tackle global problems in a cooperative way. This poll of participants – the Voice of the Leaders© – asks participants the same questions each year relating to the state of the world – and those same questions are also posed in a worldwide survey of global citizens in the Voice of the People© survey, the results of which were released last week (www.weforum.org/voiceofthepeople). The Voice of the People, undertaken in November-December 2006, interviewed more than 53,000 people and represents 1.5 billion global citizens in more than 60 countries – and comparison of the findings of both surveys makes interesting reading.

"It is clear from this survey that the leaders who will be gathering in Davos next week view the world and its problems in a different way than the wider global population. They share the same concerns about security, both economic and personal, but they often have very different priorities. What is interesting, too, is to see how climate change is taking on more and more importance – with twice as many leaders questioned placing it as the most important global issue," said Peter Torreele, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum.

Comparing the views of Davos leaders with the global population

Looking at the issue of safety for the next generation, results from both the Voice of the Leaders and the Voice of the People show pessimism, with leaders even more negative than global citizens.

Economic prospects for the future show more optimism among both leaders and global citizens, although the Voice of the People findings are gloomier. The Annual Meeting leaders’ opinions were far more buoyant concerning future economic prospects and two-thirds of the sample (65%) said that the next generation will have a lot or a little more economic prosperity than now. Just over one in ten (12%) feel it will be the same as now and one in five (19%) indicated the next generation will have a lot or a little less economic prosperity.

Global citizens were somewhat less optimistic than the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting participants about economic prosperity, with only four out of ten (40%) in the Voice of the People indicating that the next generation will live in a lot or a little more economic prosperity. 

Protecting the environment has also become a major concern of this group, rising to second place as a priority this year, mentioned by one in five (20%), in comparison to its ranking as only the fourth most important priority last year, mentioned by less than one in ten (9%). 

Over the years, trust in institutions has suffered a decline among the public. The Annual Meeting participants who answered this questionnaire also noted that this is an issue – restoring trust and honesty in government, in business and in international institutions is considered an important priority by 8% although, again, this issue was ranked more highly last year (14%).

When asked specifically what they think is the best way to recover trust in public and private institutions, the Voice of the Leaders answers are clear. Six out of ten respondents (59%) want greater transparency and governance. This is almost double the level found in Voice of the People, where a third (32%) of global citizens mentioned this. A quarter of the leaders (23%) also felt that institutions should reconnect with constituents and stakeholders to rebuild trust, while again, mentions were much lower among global citizens at only 7%. On the other hand, the Voice of the People respondents felt that more punishment of fraudulent behaviour by officials would restore trust and was cited by one in three (30%), but was mentioned by only 7% in the Voice of the Leaders. 

When asked their opinions of political and business leaders, the Voice of the Leaders findings are far more generous towards business leaders than politicians, which is not so surprising given that the sample is composed of mainly commercial respondents. Politicians are criticized by two-thirds of the Voice of the Leaders responents as being too sensitive (69%), by half (52%) for responding to pressure from people more powerful than themselves and by four out of ten (43%) for being dishonest. As to their own faults, business leaders are most criticized for responding to pressure from people more powerful than themselves by four out of ten (42%). 

But when the criticisms of business leaders from the Voice of the Leaders are compared with the Voice of the People, it is clear that the leaders hold a higher opinion of themselves than do global citizens. Far higher proportions in the Voice of the People criticize business leaders for being dishonest (34%), having too much power and responsibility (34%), responding to pressure from people more powerful than themselves (31%) and being unethical (30%).  

Political leaders are not exempt from criticism by the global public and the findings from Voice of the People and Voice of the Leaders are relatively similar on this issue except that the leaders criticize politicians for being too sensitive to public opinion far more (69%) than do global citizens (21%). Leaders are also more critical that politicians respond too much to pressure from others (53%) than are the global citizens (37%) but otherwise, the findings from the two surveys show little difference in their views of political leaders.

Gallup International Association is registered in Zurich, Switzerland as a not-for-profit verein (association). George H. Gallup and his European colleagues established it in 1947. Gallup International has member agencies in more than 65 countries across the world, conducting opinion and market research in over 100 countries.

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. (www.weforum.org)