Some of the richest and most powerful people in the world are currently

travelling to the World Economic Forum, which officially begins on Tuesday in

Davos.
But what is the purpose of this annual elite get-together in the snow-bound
Swiss mountains? What actually goes on there? Does it really do any good?
And what on earth will Donald Trump say?

It began as a small conference on management in 1971. The founder, Klaus

Schwab, had the modest goal of introducing American management techniques
to underperforming European firms.
the WEF describes its official mission as “improving the state of the world”.
The official World Economic Forum (WEF) is held in a conference centre in the
heart of the small Swiss ski resort of Davos, where delegates listen to speeches,
panel discussions and take part in seminars.
Who goes there?
The world’s most powerful politicians. This year the WEF hosts, among many
others, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Theresa May, Justin Trudeau,
Benjamin Netanyahu, Mauricio Macri Emmerson Mnangagwa and Narendra
Modi.

What happens there?

A great deal of earnest discussion on recurrent themes such as inequality,
poverty, innovation, technological change, the environment, and corporate
social responsibility. The official “theme” of this year’s meeting is: “Creating a
shared future in a fractured world”.