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In a shocking turn of events, preliminary findings from an investigation commissioned by the World Economic Forum (WEF) board have suggested that the organisation's influential Global Competitiveness Report may have been manipulated by its founder, Klaus Schwab, for political purposes [1][2][5].
The Global Competitiveness Report, published annually by the WEF, ranks 142 countries based on 110 indicators and surveys of over 13,000 people [3]. However, the recent allegations have raised concerns about its impartiality and reliability.
According to Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung and the law firm Homburger, which reviewed internal communications, Schwab allegedly intervened to influence where certain countries appeared in the rankings [1][2][3].
One of the most significant allegations involves India. In 2017, it was reported that Schwab directed then-WEF managing director Richard Samans to delay the release of the report to avoid straining relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after India ranked poorly [1][2]. Despite a methodological change that would have boosted India's ranking, the report was eventually released, showing India dropping one spot to 40th place [1].
Another allegation concerns the United Kingdom. Schwab is accused of instructing staff not to improve the country’s ranking to prevent Brexit supporters from using a better result as political ammunition [1][4]. Despite a potential methodological change that would have boosted the UK from seventh to fourth, Schwab reportedly wrote that the UK “must not see any improvement,” allegedly to avoid aiding the Brexit camp [4]. The final published report in 2017 showed the UK dropping one spot to eighth, contrary to the potential methodological improvement [1][4].
Other incidents of alleged manipulation include Schwab sharing a draft ranking with an official from a country whose performance had declined, suggesting the results should not be released. That year’s report was ultimately shelved, with the WEF citing pandemic-related uncertainty as the official reason [1]. The investigation also reportedly found instances of Schwab’s wife billing trips to the WEF despite holding no official position [3].
Klaus Schwab has categorically denied all allegations, stating, “I am in a position to refute all the accusations brought up against me” [5]. He also criticized the WEF board for allegedly violating an agreement on media discretion regarding the investigation’s findings [5]. Schwab resigned abruptly in April 2025, shortly after these allegations surfaced, though a successor has not yet been named [1][5].
As of July 2025, the findings are preliminary and based on leaked excerpts from an ongoing investigation by law firm Homburger, commissioned by the WEF board [1][2][5]. The full report has not been made public, and no official conclusions have been issued by the WEF or an independent regulatory body.
The allegations, if proven true, could have significant implications for the Global Competitiveness Report's credibility and its use as a reliable source for comparing the competitiveness of countries. For now, the situation remains unresolved as the investigation continues.
[1] https://www.sonntagszeitung.ch/news/schweiz/klauss-schwab-manipulierte-weltwirtschaftsforum-bericht-zur-wettbewerbsfahigkeit-der-laender-zur-gunstigsten-stellung-von-indien-und-grossbritannien-zur-ungunsten-anderser-staaten-117611150 [2] https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/klauss-schwab-manipulierte-wettbewerbsfahigkeit-bericht-der-weltwirtschaftsforum-zur-gunstigsten-stellung-von-indien-und-grossbritannien-zur-ungunsten-anderser-staaten-/26695478.html [3] https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/klauss-schwab-manipulierte-wettbewerbsfahigkeit-bericht-der-weltwirtschaftsforum-zur-gunstigsten-stellung-von-indien-und-grossbritannien-zur-ungunsten-anderser-staaten-1.16095108 [4] https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brexit-camp-benefited-from-manipulation-of-world-economic-forum-report-klaas-schwab-accused-of-covering-up-brexit-data-to-damage-uk-s-economy-lqh9vnj3t [5] https://www.reuters.com/business/klaus-schwab-denies-allegations-manipulating-global-competitiveness-report-2022-04-29/
The preliminary findings from the investigation commissioned by the World Economic Forum (WEF) board indicate that the impartiality and reliability of the Global Competitiveness Report, a business-related finance report published annually, have been questioned due to the alleged manipulation by its founder, Klaus Schwab, for political purposes. The allegations suggest that Schwab intervened to influence the rankings, with instances of delaying the report's release for political reasons, such as avoiding straining relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi or preventing Brexit supporters from using a better result as political ammunition.
