The World Economic Forum (WEF) has been accused of rigging data that seemed to imply that Brexit was a failure. The accusations point at WEF founder Klaus Schwab’s instruction to lower UK’s rankings when it came to countries’ economic productivity. The annual Global Competitiveness Report 2017-18 showed UK jumping from seventh to fourth, as per a leak published by Swiss media. However, the final data showed otherwise.

Reports allege that the drop in ranking to seventh, but eighth in the final report, was a result of direct intervention from the WEF Founder. “Brexit… will by definition weaken the UK’s markets component,’ the report said.

As per Swiss newspapers, Klaus wrote to staff to say that the UK “must not see any improvement” as these results might be “exploited by the Brexit camp’ to claim the UK’s departure from the EU was a success.

Global Competitiveness Report

As per past data, in 2017-18 the report showed UK’s ranking improved from seventh to the fourth. But in the final report UK had dropped to the eighth place. WEF’s statement at the time suggested that the Brexit vote was not factored in to impact the rankings but had issued due warning that it was likely to impact UK’s standing.

However, there was still a discussion underway about the possibility to hold a second referendum that could have reversed the result of the 2016 vote. The then British Prime Minister Theresa May, addressed the Davos Summit in 2017 about Britain’s post-Brexit future.

Schwab’s manipulation

An internal WEF investigation, initiated following whistleblower claims, alleged that Mr Schwab directed staff to alter data. The whistleblower had also accused him of misusing funds, making inappropriate comments to younger employees, and manipulating research findings, as per local media reports.

During the preparation of the same report, Klaus was reportedly involved in manipulating India’s rank and ensured it did not drop 20 places. It was seen as a diplomatic callback to relations with PM Modi. Schwab reportedly wrote, “We must protect our relationship with India before Davos 2019.” India ranked 40th, just one place lower than the previous year in the report.