This week at the World Economic Forum: June 13

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

Most shared this week

Europe’s most competitive economies. The top ten from Finland to France, and how is the European Union gearing up for growth? (Report)

How Croatia could have beaten Brazil. Welcome to the World Economic Forum’s Competitiveness World Cup.

On Forum:Blog

What would you sacrifice to change the world? Altruism is fine. Until you can’t send your kids to college. One social entrepreneur speaks out, as the Schwab Foundation launches its leadership manual.

Europe’s next decade. The Euro crisis is over. But what now for jobs, growth and innovation? Nick Davis on the keys to competitiveness. Part of a series including Daniel Gros on energy, Ann Mettler on reform and Katinka Barysch on a challenging election result.

Democracy and division in the Arab world. As conflict spreads to Iraq, Mohamad Al-Ississ and Ishac Diwan on the perils of polarization.

Can technology reconnect people with power? From India’s online land records to Norway’s one-click tax returns, Espen Barth Eide on the future of government. Part of a series, including the world in 2050, by Joseph Nye, Razeen Sally and Rod Beckstrom.

12 traits of tomorrow’s media. Interactive, immersive – and much more, according to our Global Agenda Council. Also: don’t leave your digital media to the kids in flip-flops.

The World Economic Forum in the news

The World Economic Forum on government’s digital future. The Future of Government Smart Toolbox launched this week. Will it usher in e-Utopia or e-1984? (The National, Gulf News, Khaleej Times)

Finland tops our European competitiveness table. (WSJ) Spain has improved (El País), Italy ranks in 21st place, but is doing well in science research and innovation. (Il Sole 24 Ore) The report was also used in the article ‘World Bank Cuts Global Growth Forecast.’ (Telegraph)

#BringBackOurGirls. The Nigerian government has released $10m in funds to help the Safe Schools Initiative launched at our Africa meeting. (Punch)

An interview with Anil Gupta, of the Global Agenda Council on Emerging Multinationals, on the burgeoning trade and business relationship between China and India. (The Diplomat)

On our radar

The ‘Jihadi Spring’ spreads. Extremist Sunni militants make inroads into the cities and oilfields of northern Iraq. Where they claim control, what it means for Iraq, and for oil prices. Now, reports say Iran is engaged too.

The Fed will maintain a record balance sheet for years. US central bankers are stepping back from their three-year-old strategy for quitting quantitative easing. In the UK, the Bank of England may raise interest rates sooner than expected.

What if the caution of the ‘super rich’ ebbs? The world’s richest people have retained huge stockpiles of zero-yielding cash throughout the recent surge in financial asset prices.

Solar energy passes another test. Now it can produce ‘supercritical’ steam, just like power plants run on fossil fuels. And could electric car maker Tesla kill gasoline by sharing its technology with everyone?

Gender parity at conferences? A new online tool makes it easier for women to speak out publicly on social media about a conference’s gender ratio.

Bill Gates reviews a book. About concrete.

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

Coming up next week

On Forum:Blog next week – everything you need to know about social media, plus five stories from the front lines of the world’s refugee crises.

Thanks for reading!

Sign up here to receive this weekly update by email.

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

Image: A Brazilian supporter watches the 2014 World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Croatia in the Recife old town June 12, 2014. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini