By Dambisa MoyoNEW YORK — At last month’s annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proclaimed that Europe needed to be more assertive in the world. That means “stepping up” in some areas.

By By Anne-Marie Slaughter, Monica Chellam WASHINGTON, DC — In the 1950s, during a very tight postwar labour market, American business executives voted Human Resources (HR) the most glamorous area in business.

By Richard Samans, Jane NelsonDAVOS — The role of corporate boards has never been more important, nor subject to as much scrutiny, as it is today.

By Sigmar Gabriel, Michael HütherBERLIN — The European Union, and particularly Germany, have yet to rise to the challenge posed by the United States’ retreat from global leadership.

By Michael Froman and Rajiv ShahNEW YORK — Science has revolutionised medicine and agriculture over the last 100 years, particularly for the poorest of the poor.

By Hanan MorsyABIDJAN — While much of the world struggles with rapid population aging, Africa is experiencing the opposite trend.

By Reda Cherif, Fuad Hasanov, Sabine SchlorkeWASHINGTON, DC — For many firms in emerging and developing economies, emulating the success of the likes of Samsung and Hyundai may seem like an impossible dream.

By Charles C. Krulak, Larry Hatheway, Jerry Grinstein and Alexander FriedmanDAVOS — The World Economic Forum’s annual flagship meeting this year will focus on how to build a more cohesive and sustainable world. As always, the topic is timely, but also a little abstract.

By Linda KruegerNEW YORK — This October, representatives of the 196 parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will gather in Kunming, China, to finalise a new Global Biodiversity Framework.