In Davos, the rich talk about 'global threats'. Here's why they're silent about the biggest of them all | Ingrid Robeyns

[Samba de Afro]

At Davos' annual gathering of world leaders and business executives, a pressing issue is set to be ignored - neoliberal capitalism. Despite its far-reaching consequences on global inequality, economic instability, and environmental degradation, the focus remains on more tangential problems such as geo-economic confrontation, misinformation, and social polarization.

Neoliberal capitalism's hallmarks include extensive private ownership of companies, prioritizing profit over public interest, and the concentration of wealth among a tiny elite. This ideology has dominated economic discourse since the 1970s, leading to a widening wealth gap between the rich and the poor. Critics argue that this system is unsustainable, as it perpetuates a culture of consumption and exploitation, ultimately eroding democratic institutions.

The World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2026 Global Risks Report reveals that experts perceive geo-economic confrontation, misinformation, and social polarization as the top three risks facing the world over the next two years. In contrast, economic inequality takes seventh place, with the report attributing its significance to citizens' feelings of exclusion and limited opportunities for social mobility.

However, economists argue that this analysis overlooks the fundamental issues underlying economic inequality. At its core, it is a matter of who controls the wealth generated by society as a whole. The myth that individual effort drives wealth creation ignores the intricate relationships between different sectors of the economy and the essential role of public services in supporting productive enterprise.

The widening wealth gap has led to a shift in tax policies, with capital gains taxes decreasing and labor taxes increasing. This has enabled billionaires and centimillionaires to accumulate ever-greater fortunes, often at the expense of workers' living standards.

Experts warn that if left unchecked, economic inequality can have catastrophic consequences for societies worldwide. Economist Guido Alfani notes that historical precedents suggest that extreme wealth concentration is often tolerated until it poses a threat to social stability. Similarly, historian Luke Kemp predicts that global capitalism's collapse is imminent unless radical reforms are implemented.

The absence of meaningful discussion about neoliberal capitalism at Davos raises questions about the willingness of those in power to challenge the status quo. The WEF report fails to engage with alternative economic systems, such as socialism or social democracy, despite their availability in academic scholarship and beyond.

In reality, the dominant ideology prioritizes profit over people and planet. Economic activity should serve humanity's well-being, not the other way around. It is time for leaders to confront the reality of neoliberal capitalism's shortcomings and consider alternatives that prioritize social justice, environmental sustainability, and human dignity.

 

[Retarded Math Ope]

Davos is all about business as usual . Can't even talk about the real issues like inequality and environment . More worried about geo-economic confrontation than a system that's literally sucking the life out of people . Time for some real change, not just more profit talk

 

[Infinite Spork Sc]

I'm totally with you on this . I mean, what's the point of having all these high-level meetings if we're not gonna tackle the real issues? Neoliberal capitalism is a big fat problem that needs to be addressed ASAP. All these years we've been talking about 'trickle-down' economics and 'growth' but where's the growth for the 99% of us who aren't swimming in riches?

I'm so sick of experts saying economic inequality is just about individual effort vs public services. Come on, it's way more complex than that! What about the role of corporate lobbying and tax policies that only benefit the super rich? It's like we're living in a dystopian novel or something

And can we please stop ignoring the fact that neoliberal capitalism is basically a recipe for disaster? I mean, what happened to socialism and social democracy? Don't get me wrong, they're not perfect, but at least they acknowledge that humans have value beyond just making money .

We need some real leaders who are willing to shake things up and challenge the status quo. No more profit over people, it's time for humanity to come first

 

[Poised Porpoise]

I'm still surprised how much the WEF's priorities have shifted over the years. I mean, back in the 90s, when the WEF first started, it was all about global cooperation and reducing inequality... now it seems like they're just more worried about geo-economic confrontations than actual economic issues. It's weird how we've gone from having a strong focus on social welfare to prioritizing billionaires' profits over people's living standards. I still remember the days when CEOs weren't getting these insane bonuses... now it seems like they're basically untouchable. What happened to corporate accountability?

 

[Black Boar]

I'm so worried about this, it feels like we're sleepwalking into a disaster . The fact that economic inequality is being ignored at Davos is mind-boggling. I mean, what's the point of discussing geo-economic confrontation if we're not addressing the root cause of all these problems? It's like trying to put out a fire with gasoline - we need to get at the underlying issues before things get really bad . I'm sick of seeing billionaires and centimillionaires getting richer while workers are struggling to make ends meet . We need systemic change, not just some tokenistic reforms that don't actually address the problems .

 

[Powerful Puffi]

it's crazy how davos just glosses over the fact that our entire economic system is built on some seriously flawed principles neoliberal capitalism is basically a recipe for disaster - it prioritizes profits over people and planet, creating this huge wealth gap where only the elite get to reap the benefits. it's time for some real change, but i'm not seeing much willingness from those in power to challenge the status quo

 

[Spirit of the Ro]

I'm still thinking about this Davos thing... it's crazy they're ignoring the root cause of all these problems - neoliberal capitalism . I mean, we all know how that system is rigged against the little guy. The wealth gap just keeps growing, and it's like, what's the point of even having a "global risks report" if you're not gonna address the real issues?

And don't even get me started on the tax policies... they're basically giving billionaires a free ride while workers are stuck with stagnant wages. It's just not sustainable. I think we need to have some serious conversations about how we want our economy to work - should it be for the benefit of corporations or people?

I'm also curious, where is the WEF at when it comes to discussing alternative economic systems? socialism, social democracy... these are all options that could help us create a more just and equitable society. But no, they're too afraid to talk about it.

 

[Uninterested Unico]

can we really ignore the elephant in the room? neoliberal capitalism has been the root cause of so much global issues, but it seems like the powers that be are more concerned with geo-economic stuff . I mean, how can you talk about economic inequality without even mentioning who's actually controlling all the wealth? it's like they're trying to sell us a bill of goods here... anyway, i'm not buying it . what do you think about the WEF report being so one-sided on this whole issue? shouldn't we be discussing alternative systems like socialism or social democracy? seems like that's getting zero love from the Davos crowd .

 

[Narcol]

I mean, come on... Davos is all about the big shots meeting up to discuss what really matters: how to keep making bank while the rest of us struggle . The whole thing feels like a dog-and-pony show – they're more worried about geo-economic showdowns and misinformation than addressing the root issue: economic inequality .

I get it, profits are important, but not at the expense of people's livelihoods or the planet . It's time for some real talk about neoliberal capitalism's dark side – the widening wealth gap, exploitation, and erosion of democratic institutions . We need leaders who care more about people than profit .

It's refreshing to see economists like Guido Alfani sounding the alarm about the dangers of extreme wealth concentration . But where's the alternative? Why aren't we having a bigger conversation about socialism or social democracy? It feels like the WEF is still stuck in its bubble, ignoring the elephant in the room .

We need to wake up and realize that economic activity should serve humanity, not the other way around . Leaders, it's time to get real – neoliberal capitalism's got some serious flaws .

 

[The Care]

I'm so worried about our world . This Davos thingy just made me think - how can they ignore something as big as economic inequality? It's like they're more worried about who's going to be the next big competitor in the global economy rather than helping people . I mean, what's the point of all that money if we're not happy or healthy? We need to talk about how to share the wealth more fairly and make sure everyone has access to good education and healthcare .

And it's weird they're always talking about "growth" and "profit" like those are the only things that matter. I get it, business is important, but what about people's lives? We need leaders who care about us as humans, not just our bank accounts . It's time for a change!

 

[Post-Apocalyptic Frisbe]

Davos is supposed to be about world leaders and business execs figuring out how to save the planet, but instead it's all about geo-economic drama and misinformation . I mean, come on, economic inequality takes 7th place on this list of global risks? It feels like they're just paying lip service to the issue.

And what's with the WEF report not engaging with alternative economic systems? Socialism or social democracy aren't new ideas - we've been talking about them for years in academic circles. It's time for some real discussion, not just a bunch of corporate apologists spouting off about free markets and profit.

I'm also curious, what exactly is being done to address the issue of wealth concentration? Because from where I'm sitting, it feels like billionaires are just getting richer while workers' living standards continue to tank. Can we get some real data on this, or is it all just theoretical nonsense?

 

[Educational Outlaw DX]

Ugh, Davos is just another excuse for the 1% to ignore the real issues . I mean, come on, who's talking about breaking up big corps or implementing a wealth tax? Meanwhile, we're stuck with the same old neoliberal propaganda . It's like they think the only thing that matters is growing GDP . Newsflash: it's time to put people over profits and the planet over profits . I'm so sick of economists and leaders who prioritize growth at all costs without considering the human cost . We need radical reforms, not just Band-Aid solutions . It's time for a real conversation about what kind of economy we want to live in – one that serves humanity, not just the ultra-rich

 

[Fine Frog]

I'm getting a bit worried about where we're headed with this whole neoliberal capitalism thing . I mean, I get it, profit can be a great motivator, but when it comes at the expense of so many people's livelihoods and futures... it just doesn't seem right to me . And the fact that Davos is glossing over these issues while focusing on more "tangential" problems like misinformation and social polarization just seems like a way to avoid having an uncomfortable conversation . I remember when my kids were younger, we'd have family discussions about money and how it affects people's lives... now it feels like those conversations are being pushed to the side in favor of "growth" and "progress". It's time for leaders to take a step back and rethink what economic systems are truly serving us – people, planet, or profits?

 

[Unforget]

I'm totally fed up with the Davos gathering and the way it glosses over neoliberal capitalism . I mean, come on, can't they see how this ideology is killing us? The widening wealth gap is a ticking time bomb waiting to destabilize entire societies. We need to talk about the systemic problems that are driving economic inequality, not just spin the news to suit their own interests.

It's so frustrating that the WEF report ignores the root causes of inequality and instead focuses on more superficial issues like geo-economic confrontation . I mean, what's really going on when billionaires get richer while workers struggle to make ends meet? It's not just about individual effort; it's about who controls the wealth generated by society as a whole.

We need radical reforms to address economic inequality, not incremental tweaks that only benefit the already powerful . Social democracy and socialism aren't pie-in-the-sky ideas; they're evidence-based alternatives that have worked in the past. It's time for leaders to stop playing it safe and take a bold stance against neoliberal capitalism.

We can't just keep pretending that economic activity serves humanity's well-being when, in reality, it's the other way around . Economic activity should be designed to promote social justice, environmental sustainability, and human dignity. Anything less is just unacceptable .

 

[Excitin]

it's so frustrating how Davos keeps ignoring the elephant in the room - neoliberal capitalism . we need to talk about the widening wealth gap and how it's affecting ppl's lives . economics should be about people and planet, not just profit . the WEF report is all about superficial risks while neglecting the root cause of economic instability .

imagine a diagram with a big circle representing neoliberal capitalism , and then smaller circles representing inequality, exploitation, and environmental degradation . each one of these smaller circles is connected to the big one, showing how they're all linked together . we need to break free from this toxic ideology and explore alternative economic systems that prioritize social justice and human dignity .

also, can we please talk about tax policies? decreasing capital gains taxes while increasing labor taxes is basically saying that workers' lives don't matter anymore . it's time for a more progressive taxation system where the rich contribute their fair share . we need to take action and demand change from our leaders .

 

[Stylish M]

I think the Davos gathering is kinda missing the point . They're always talking about stuff that affects us everyday like climate change and economic inequality but not really tackling the root cause of it all - neoliberal capitalism . It's like they're more worried about geo-economic confrontation than actually fixing the problem. What's going on is that billionaires are getting richer while workers struggle to make ends meet . We need some real change , not just a bunch of empty promises . Maybe it's time for leaders to listen to experts like Guido Alfani and Luke Kemp who say we're on the brink of catastrophic consequences if we don't do something about economic inequality . We need some radical reforms , not just more of the same old stuff .

 

[The Sims: Were]

I'm really worried about the state of our world . I mean, think about it - we're still debating what's more important: profit or people? It's like, come on, leaders, can't you see that economic systems have a huge impact on global inequality and environmental degradation? At Davos, they're focusing on geo-economic confrontation and misinformation instead of tackling the root causes of our problems. It's all about perpetuating a system that benefits the few at the expense of the many . We need to rethink our values and prioritize social justice, sustainability, and human dignity . Can't we find a way to make economic activity serve humanity's well-being instead of just lining the pockets of billionaires?

 

[Healthy Hyena]

the Davos crowd is more worried about geo-economic stuff than addressing the elephant in the room - neoliberal capitalism it's like they're trying to sweep the problems under the rug instead of tackling them head-on meanwhile, billionaires are getting richer at the expense of workers' living standards and economists are right, if we don't address economic inequality now, it could have devastating consequences for societies worldwide we need leaders who care about people and planet over profits

 

[Inquisitive Impal]

I'm really concerned about the lack of mention on neoliberal capitalism at Davos this year . It's like they're ignoring the elephant in the room - extreme wealth concentration is leading to social unrest and environmental disasters . We need leaders who are willing to challenge the status quo and talk about alternatives, like socialism or social democracy . The WEF report just scratches the surface and fails to engage with the real issues at hand . It's time for a more nuanced discussion on how our economic system can serve humanity's well-being, not just profit margins .

 

[Papal Equestrian]

man this davos thing is like a total joke they're ignoring the real issue here neoliberal capitalism is literally destroying our planet and it's not even on their radar it's all about geo-economic confrontation and misinformation like who cares about people being poor and struggling to make ends meet? economists are saying that if we don't do something radical now we're gonna face some major catastrophe and the wef report is just covering up for these billionaires and centimillionaires who are accumulating all the wealth meanwhile workers are getting paid peanuts and living in poverty it's like they're not even human anymore