MILAN—An array of crises will keep several world leaders away from the annual World Economic Forum in Davos next week, which takes place against a backdrop of deepening gloom over the global economic and political outlook.
Anxiety over trade disputes, fractious international relations, Brexit, and a growth slowdown that some fear could tip the world economy into recession are set to dominate the Jan. 22–25 Alpine meeting and the mood will be somber.
