The accusations reportedly prompted Klaus Schwab to step down from his role as chairman at the WEF. | Michael Buholzer/EPA
In a recent investigation, it was revealed that the World Economic Forum deliberately altered data in its 2017/2018 global competitiveness report to portray Brexit as a failure, and to safeguard essential partnerships with power players like India. This wasn't some kind of technical mishap; it was a purposeful choice, led by former president Klaus Schwab and a group of WEF staff. While there was data suggesting the UK should move from seventh to fourth position, the WEF hid this change to prevent Brexit supporters from using that position change as evidence of Brexit being a success.
This manipulation was even bigger than just the UK. For example, India’s position was saved so India would not drop significantly enough to anger Prime Minister Modi and cause him not to attend Davos. This demonstrates the ways in which economic data and trusted reports are often more about opinion shaping and global politics than objective analysis, bolstering specific agendas and inequalities.
In April, Schwab resigned under significant pressure and scrutiny, investigations that he had noted were being pursued, were triggered in part by whistleblower reports, and serious allegations of financial misconduct, reporting manipulation and a toxic and discriminatory workplace, have now come to light.
This farce should demonstrate how political objectives can be pursued at the expense of transparency, and how global institutions may eschew fairness and truth in favor of prestige and power.
References:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/21/wef-rigged-data-to-make-brexit-look-like-failure/
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/klaus-schwab-spesen-manipulierte-berichte-peinliche-mails-746168819880
https://www.wsj.com/business/world-economic-forum-klaus-schwab-discrimination-harassment-de285594
https://www.wsj.com/business/world-economic-forum-opens-new-probe-into-founder-klaus-schwab-e2f061d6