Worsening Wealth Gap Seen as Biggest Risk Facing the World in 2014

• The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2014 report finds income disparity the most likely risk to cause an impact on a global scale in the next decade
• Other risks of significant concern include extreme weather events, unemployment and fiscal crises
• The report analyses 31 global risks and includes special in-depth investigations into youth unemployment, digital disintegration, and geopolitical risks
• The report can be read in full at http://reports.weforum.org/global-risks-2014
• The introductory video can be viewed at http://wef.ch/GRR2014video

London, United Kingdom, 16 January 2014 – The chronic gap between the incomes of the richest and poorest citizens is seen as the risk that is most likely to cause serious damage globally in the coming decade, according to over 700 global experts that contributed to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2014 report, released today.
 
Taking a 10-year outlook, the report assesses 31 risks that are global in nature and have the potential to cause significant negative impact across entire countries and industries if they take place. The risks are grouped under five classifications – economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological – and measured in terms of their likelihood and potential impact.