The 2,000-odd business luminaries, political leaders, campaigners and members of the media des-cending on the Swiss mountain resort of Davos this week are, according to the World Economic Forum's motto, dedicated to improving the state of the world.

This year, by common consent, they have a fuller and more urgent agenda than ever. Yet they have never been less trusted to provide the answer to the financial and social troubles they are supposed to be addressing.