AP Interview: Davos founder: Focus on jobs, morals (AP)

(DAVOS, Switzerland) — The fragile state of the world economy, along with the relentless turmoil in Syria and the rocky fallout from the Arab Spring, dominated discussions during this year’s annual gathering of the global elite at Davos, leaving many participants uneasy about what lies ahead as they left for home Sunday. Even broad agreement that there are some positive signs on the economic front, at least in emerging markets, was coupled with a warning from the head of the International Monetary Fund. “Do not relax,” Christine Lagarde said.

Plenty of high-powered financial executives wouldn't even think about missing the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos next week. Top political leaders from Germany, China, Russia, Japan and Britain will be present and accounted for, prepared to discuss the global economic crisis. And who will be there from the Obama administration? Valerie Jarrett.

As global movers and shakers trek to the Swiss Alps for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum -- some of them making the unaccustomed choice to fly on commercial airlines -- conference organizers are asking the rest of the world to give them a break. Sure, many of the most glamorous guests -- the heads of Citigroup Inc., Bank of America, and UBS AG -- are also among the most culpable for the deepening global economic meltdown.

Ever since the 18th Party Congress in November, China pundits have argued over whether the new leadership will or will not bring about new reforms.

AFP - World leaders gathering at the

Steven HorwitzSome of you may have seen a variety of blog posts in the last week or two discussing the results of a Pew survey in which people were asked whether they viewed a variety of political terms positively or negatively.  Tim Cavanaugh at Reason has most of the data and a libertarian perspective on it.  The results are not too bad for libertarian-minded folks.