Straight to the point

Geneva, Switzerland, 14 July 2020 – Since its entry on to the world stage, COVID-19 has disrupted global health systems, economies and societies. A new book by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, and Thierry Malleret, Founder of the Monthly Barometer, considers the far-reaching implications of the pandemic and argues the need for a “Great Reset” in every domain from policy-making to business.

“We are at a crossroads,” the authors of COVID-19: The Great Reset argue. “One path will take us to a better world: more inclusive, more equitable and more respectful of Mother Nature. The other will take us to a world that resembles the one we just left behind – but worse and constantly dogged by nasty surprises. We must therefore get it right.”

The book – part economic analysis, part public policy-oriented – is the first of its kind globally, appearing at the peak of the COVID crisis worldwide and at a time when a medical solution is still at least six months away. It includes theory and practical examples but is chiefly explanatory, containing many conjectures and ideas about what the post-pandemic world might and, perhaps, should look like.

The book offers a panoramic overview of the current situation. The first chapter assesses the impact of the pandemic on five macro categories: economic, societal, geopolitical, environmental and technological. The second chapter considers the effects in micro terms, on specific industries and companies. The third hypothesizes about the nature of the possible consequences at the individual level.

Notes to editors

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).