World Economic Forum

I would like to enquire, does anyone know what the World Economic Forum is 
supposed to achieve? I mean, as an Economic forum, it is used to give political 
and social policy positions instead of really finding economic solutions to 
economic problems e.g. as far as i know, there is hardly a mention of debt 
problems for the 3rd world.
What is this forum offically and really about? And is the protest forum, the 
World Social Forum, of any significance or use at all? 

Justin