Outcome

The goal of Copenhagen Consensus 2008 was to set priorities among a series of proposals for confronting ten great global challenges. A panel of economic experts, comprising eight of the world’s most distinguished economists, was invited to consider these issues. The ten Assessment Papers, commissioned from acknowledged authorities in each area of policy, included more than 30 proposals for the panel’s consideration. During the conference the panel examined these proposals in detail, with the final prioritized list (shown below) the outcome of the conference. 

Each paper was discussed at length with its principal author and with two other specialists who had been commissioned to write critical appraisals, and then the experts met in private session. Based on the costs and benefits of the solutions, the panel ranked the proposals, in descending order of desirability.

This document details the process and shows the final results of Copenhagen Consensus 2008.