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DAVOS, Switzerland — The global elite at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting here in the Swiss Alps are resigned to a recession, saying it’s all but inevitable, both in the United States and globally.
But they are optimistic that it is likely to be a mild one.
The tone is a marked shift from the last conference in May, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and fears of economic catastrophe cast a pall on the week-long conference. Many companies scaled back their plans accordingly, cutting budgets and attendee lists.
This year, they’re all back — with rosier outlooks, despite ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
“People are struggling to predict the future — what does 2023 hold, 2024?” Jack Azagury, chief executive of strategy and consulting at Accenture, said in an interview. “Between the war and covid and broader geopolitical events and inflation, you feel the uncertainty….
