The Global Competitiveness Report 2014–2015 is being launched at a time when the global economy seems to be finally leaving behind the worst and longest-lasting financial and economic crisis of the last 80 years. However, this resurgence is moving at a less decisive pace than it has after previous downturns, and heightened risks looming on the horizon could derail the global recovery. Much of the growth in recent years has taken place because of the extraordinary and bold monetary policies in countries such as the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. As the economy improves in these countries, a normalization of monetary policy with tightening financial conditions could have an impact on both advanced and emerging economies.
Moreover, the strained geopolitical scenarios with rising tensions in a number of regions can also have negative consequences for the global economic outlook. Finally, many countries are suffering from accelerating income inequalities; often these inequalities are lasting effects of the crisis that are creating domestic social tensions with potential global consequences.

The World Economic Forum 2014-2015