Secret of German Economy: family-owned companies account for about 90% of GDP

The Core of Germany's Economy

Germany is often described through the language of engineering, exports, and industrial discipline. But beneath those familiar labels lies something even more distinctive: a deeply rooted culture of family business. In Germany, family firms are not a niche or a romantic leftover from an earlier era. They are the core of the economy.

Depending on the definition used, family-owned or family-controlled companies account for roughly 86–90 percent of all German businesses. They employ about 54 percent of the national workforce, and under a broader “family-controlled” definition they account for around 58 percent of jobs subject to social-security contributions. In revenue terms, they generate about 43–46 percent of total business turnover.

How the World Economy Could Look in 2050: Asia Takes the Lead

By 2050, the economic map of the world may look very different from what we know today.

According to long-term projections by Goldman Sachs, the centre of gravity of global GDP is expected to shift decisively away from today’s developed markets and towards emerging Asia.

The Big Picture: Who Owns Global GDP in 2050?

In 2050 (in constant 2021 USD), global GDP is projected to total about $227.9 trillion. Here’s how that pie is expected to be divided:

• Asia (excluding developed markets): $90.6 trillion – 40%
• Developed Markets (DM): $82.9 trillion – 36%
• Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEEMEA): $38.3 trillion – 17%
• Latin America: $16.0 trillion – 7%

The headline shift is clear:

Emerging Asia is projected to become the largest regional contributor to world GDP, with 40% of the total, edging ahead of traditional Developed Markets at 36%.

To see how dramatic this is, compare it with the year 2000. At that time, developed economies (North America, Western Europe, Japan, etc.) accounted for more than 77% of global GDP. By 2050, their share is expected to fall to just over a third.

Asia’s Rise: Beyond the “China Story”

When people think about Asia’s economic success, they often focus on China – and for good reason. But the 2050 picture is not just about China.

Global Education Forum 2026 held in Davos

Davos, Switzerland, July 9–12, 2026

The world of education is undergoing rapid transformation — and the Global Education Forum 2026 has united leaders, innovators, and practitioners to address this change at one of the most important international platforms. After successful editions in London, Glasgow, Istanbul, and the Maldives, the forum returns to Davos to focus on the challenges and opportunities shaping education in the digital age.

The Global Education Forum 2026, held in Davos on 10 July as part of Global Business Week 2026, brought together representatives of primary, secondary and higher education, supplementary and extracurricular education, educational franchises, technology companies, curriculum developers, researchers, entrepreneurs and education innovators from more than 40 countries.

World Woman Club celebrates 20 Years

On March 1, 2026, World Woman Club opened the anniversary season of its 20th jubilee — a journey that began in 2006 and, according to the club’s official materials, was formally registered on March 1, 2007. This jubilee year is envisioned not as a single evening or one ceremonial event, but as an entire international season of recognition, remembrance, and a renewed vision for the future.

The summer culmination of the celebrations will take place in Davos as part of the World Woman Forum 2026, with a gala celebration on July 12, marking the high point of this historic year.

A Two-Decade Journey: From an Idea to a Global Ecosystem

Over twenty years, World Woman Club has grown from the idea of uniting strong and ambitious women into a full-fledged international ecosystem. The club defines its mission as bringing together women leaders and women’s organisations from around the world into one multilingual global network for real progress, business cooperation, and global development. What began as a bold initiative has evolved into a respected international platform that connects women across countries, cultures, industries, and generations.

Startup World Cup Championship 2026 Davos: WINNERS

Startup World Cup Championship 2026 United Young Entrepreneurs from Around the World in Davos

9–17 July 2026 | Davos, Switzerland

The Startup World Cup Championship 2026 was successfully held in Davos, Switzerland, as part of Global Business Week 2026, bringing together children, young people and adults with a shared ambition to transform innovative ideas into real businesses.

The Championship became a powerful international platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders. It united participants who were not only dreaming about the future, but were actively creating it through entrepreneurship, technology, creativity and social innovation.

Young talents presented startup projects, developed entrepreneurial thinking, tested their ideas before an international audience and learned how to build sustainable companies capable of generating value, creating jobs, attracting investment and contributing to long-term economic growth.

One of the Biggest Risks for Investors 2026

For nearly the entire period following the 2008 crisis, global financial markets operated in an unusual monetary reality: interest rates in developed countries were historically low, liquidity was abundant, inflation was relatively subdued, and central banks moved almost in sync. The U.S. Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan, and other regulators differed in details, but the overall direction was clear: cheap money, market support, accommodative policy, and a readiness to rescue the system at the first sign of stress.

That era shaped a whole generation of investors who grew accustomed to the idea that market declines were often met with new liquidity, that debt burdens were manageable under low rates, and that growth assets benefited from cheap capital. But today, one of the biggest risks is that investors may still be viewing a new world through the lens of the old era.