Alternative views of the economic crisis

The dramatic downturn gripping the global economy has breathed new life into old questions about how best to run our economic systems. Politicians, business leaders and policymakers searched for solutions at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos.

Meanwhile, different debates were taking place at the "alternative" World Social Forum in Belem, Brazil.

There, an eclectic mix of some 100,000 campaigners, thinkers, and working people came to starkly different conclusions about the causes of the downturn, and how best to address it.

We asked four participants from around the globe to give us their opinions. Click on the links below to read their arguments.

David Evan Harris
"The current economic model which privileges unbridled competition is not sustainable"
David Evan Harris
Director, Global Lives Project

Walden Bello
"This crisis has roots in global overproduction"
Walden Bello
Focus on Global South

Myriam Vander Stichele (pic SOMO)
"Calls for re-regulation require a dismantling of the architecture of international trade treaties"
Myriam Vander Stichele
Researcher on multinationals

Marcos Arruda
"At this point the capitalist emperor has no clothes"
Marcos Arruda
Economist