Another year is upon us, and as they do every year, the World Economic Forum released Thursday its Global Risks 2014 Report. These are the 10 biggest threats the world faces in 2014.
How is the Report Compiled?
“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,” is how the WEF describes the report in a statement accompanying its release, adding: “The risks are grouped under five classifications — economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal, and technological — and measured in terms of their likelihood and potential impact.”
According to USA Today, the report canvasses the views of 700 experts from around the world. Ten of what the WEF calls the “global risks of highest concern” for 2014 are as follows:
10 Biggest Threats Facing the World in 2014
- Fiscal Crises in Key Economies
- Structurally High Unemployment/Underemployment
- Water Crisis
- Severe Income Disparity
- Failure of Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation
- Greater Incidence of Extreme Weather Events (eg floods, storms, fires)
- Global Governance Failure
- Food Crisis
- Failure of a Major Financial Mechanism/Institution
- Profound Political & Social Instability
Many of these have been on the list for multiple years, but they remain concerns according to the study.
Sources: USA Today | World Economic Forum Global Risks Report