Davostating news

This week saw the return of everyone’s favourite hoopla of capitalism. 

Davos is Switzerland’s very own Disneyland - in that the attractions aren’t that great, it’s miles away from anything, and it’s really more about drinking to get through it.

As well as bringing together big hitters from the world of politics, business, and culture, Davos also sees the release of some interesting research.

Oxfam were first out of the blocks with analysis that is both shocking and completely unsurprising. 

According to their report, billionaire wealth rose by more than 16% last year, three times faster than the past five-year average, to more than $18 trillion. The value of the increase alone is enough to eradicate extreme poverty 26 times over. Or book the best hotel room in Davos.

Edelman then reminded every comms consultancy on the planet that no matter how many times you do a brainstorm, the Trust Barometer will remain the gold standard in agency marketing (The Cave aside, of course).

Given the Oxfam findings, it’s unsurprising that this year’s report found the gap in trust between high and low income groups has more than doubled globally since 2012.

More interestingly, last year’s theme of grievance has turned to insularity, with 70% of citizens unwilling or hesitant to trust someone who has different values, facts, problem-solving approaches, or cultural background.

Culture has long since fractured into insular fandoms, but the disinclination to engage with anything that doesn’t fit neatly into your bubble is becoming ever more entrenched. 

The watercooler isn’t dead, but it’s now much more like the Meet the Plastics table than a communal discussion of shared experiences. Which, as an analogy for Davos, is pretty perfect.