WEF report ranks top ten trends for 2014

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WEF report ranks top ten trends for 2014

(Xinhua) 10:17, November 16, 2013

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The rise in the societal tensions in the Middle East and North Africa and the increase of income disparities are among the top ten trends for the year ahead, said a new report released by World Economic Forum (WEF) Friday.

The report, entitled the Outlook on the Global Agenda 2014, indicated the emerging trends for 2014, and also highlighted the complexities, interdependencies and connections between them, with the aim of helping leaders and policy-makers formulate effective responses.

The report ranked the top 10 trends in 2014 as followings: rising societal tensions in the Middle East and North Africa, widening income disparities, persistent structural unemployment, intensifying cyber threats, inaction on climate change, diminishing confidence in economic policies, a lack of values in leadership, the expanding middle class in Asia, the growing importance of megacities and the rapid spread of misinformation online.

Moreover, the report also highlighted emerging trends that experts believe will grow in the coming 12 months, including the implications of shale gas extraction, the failure or inadequacy of democratic institutions, the rise of emerging market multinational companies and the role of space in improving the world.

"The complexity of the trends that will shape the global agenda in 2014 and the nature of their interaction clearly demonstrate the need for cooperation on a global level. Such cooperation must be pursued as a matter of urgency if we are to mitigate the harshest effects of these trends and channel their positive momentum," said Klaus Schwab, WEF's founder and executive chairman.

（Editor：WangXin、Chen Lidan）