Alliance president Monique Leroux, representing the International Co-operative Alliance at the World Economic Forum, sends her observations: “The forum’s speakers emphasize that financial inclusion is critical to achieve stability, not only in emerging economies, but also in developed nations. A striking finding is that 73% of the world is financially excluded. Exclusion and inequality cause major societal issues like black markets and violence. As pointed out by Joseph Stiglitz at the forum: GDP is not a good measure of economic performance, but it is a good measure of well-being. Financial inclusion is the basis to be recognized in society. It empowers people and is the basis for self-help, a dignified and sustainable way forward. Co-operative banks and credit unions play a significant role in improving financial inclusion and they should increase their global reach.” Inequality extends beyond personal finance. In education in particular, barriers need to be removed and inclusion encouraged. The best way to deal with inequality is to empower people. Again, co-operatives are an important tool - empowerment is about self-help. Read more at: http://ica.coop/en/media/news/davos-diary-co-ops-lead-inclusion-and-purpose