World Economic Forum (WEF)
Website: http://www.weforum.org/
Category: Business
Year of Foundation: 1971 (European Management Forum)
Location of Foundation: Davos, Switzerland
Location of Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Brief Description: The World Economic Forum describes itself as 'an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.' (source: www.weforum.org; accessed 27 April 2010).
Founding Rationales:
The first conference of the 'European Management Forum' held in Davos in January 1971 was intended to 'bring US management experts together with leading European businessmen' in order 'that European businessmen ... would benefit from exposure to US management techniques.'
Source: Kirsten Lundberg, 'Convenor or Player? The World Economic Forum and Davos' Kennedy School of Government Case Program C15-04-1741.0 (Cambridge, MA: John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 2004), pp. 3-4.
Evolution of Membership (Organizations):
From 1996 membership was capped at 1000.
Sources: Kirsten Lundberg, 'Convenor or Player? The World Economic Forum and Davos' Kennedy School of Government Case Program C15-04-1741.0 (Cambridge, MA: John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 2004), pp. 13-14; www.weforum.org (accessed 27 April 2010).