Preface

What is the future of globalization? How can sustainable global economic growth be achieved? What are the major geopolitical uncertainties for 2013? These are some of the questions at the top of the agenda of many global leaders and decision-makers. They formed the main topics of discussion over the past few months among the 1,500 global experts from the Network of Global Agenda Councils, over 900 of who met face-to-face during the Summit on the Global Agenda 2012 in Dubai. 

 The most compelling of these debates are highlighted in this report, with the intention of broadening our outlook for 2013. The Global Agenda Outlook 2013 examines the existing claims and discussions from the perspective of some of the world’s foremost thought leaders, and complements these insights with a wealth of quantitative data from surveys conducted across this global network of experts. The result is a much more comprehensive assessment about what to expect in 2013 and beyond. In short, we see this report as a briefing document for today’s leaders.

 The Global Agenda Councils will continue to work together in the coming months, producing ideas and recommendations to address the key challenges of our time. The World Economic Forum is committed to integrating the outcomes of their work into its activities, including at the upcoming Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters 2013, to ensure that they find their way into global decision-making processes. 

 The World Economic Forum would like to express its sincere gratitude to all the Members of Global Agenda Councils, whose conversations at the Summit in Dubai and in their virtual meetings are the foundations of this report. Special thanks are due to the main authors of the chapters for their contributions.

 I hope that the Global Agenda Outlook 2013 provides you with valuable insights to guide your decision-making in the coming year. I invite you to continue these debates with Members of our Network, to share your ideas and develop concrete action plans which can help to shape a better future.

 Get involved at
 www.forumblog.org/communities/global-agenda-councils

Martina N. Gmür
Senior Director, Head of the Network of Global Agenda Councils,
World Economic Forum