BOARDROOM TAILS: Globalisation and the poor
Davos elites’ arrogance drives populism and disaffection
Presumably there’s a detailed academic explanation of the difference between populism and democracy. But it looks as if the essential difference is that populism is when your gang gets elected and democracy is when my gang does. In Davos this week there will have been much talk of populism and the dangers it poses to the people of Davos. As wealthy and/or powerful people from around the globe sipped their champagne, they would have exchanged heartfelt views about the distressing consequences of inequality. There would also have been much chatter about the growing disaffection with, and distrust of, globalisation and political and business leaders.Inevitably the latest Oxfam research was trotted out, reminding everyone that now eight people control as much wealth as the poorest 50% of the world’s population. Not much has changed at the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos bash. You have to wonder why they bother. Political and business leaders have met in Davos since 1974; in 1987 the ...
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