Global Risks 2012 Report Highlights the Interconnectedness of Risks

The Global Risks Report 2012 warns of the world's vulnerability to further economic shocks and social upheaval risk that can undermine the progress of globalization.

Published in cooperation with Marsh & McLennan Companies, Swiss Re, The Wharton Center for Risk Management and Zurich Financial Services, Global Risks 2012 is the flagship initiative of the World Economic Forum's Risk Response Network. Marsh & McLennan Companies has been supporting the report since its inception. This year's report is the seventh in the series.

The report is based on a risk outlook survey of 469 experts from industry, government, academia and civil society. Structured on a 10-year outlook, the survey captures the perceived impact, likelihood and interconnectedness of 50 prevalent global risks structured in five risk categories: economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological risks.

The report presents:

• Risk outlook survey results;
• Three cases that illustrate how clusters of risks are interacting and manifesting; and,
• A special focus on the Japanese earthquake as a case study of risk interconnections and risk response.

The 2012 report also introduces the concept of Centers of Gravity - those risks perceived by survey respondents to be of greatest systemic importance within each of the five risk categories. The report also looks ahead to X Factors, which require further research. The notion of a volcanic winter, epigenetics and mega-accidents are some X factors for future consideration.