'Scepticism has a place at Davos 2012'

There is an urgent and gloomy tone to this year's gathering of the world's richest and most powerful people at the world economic forum in Davos.

More than 2,600 delegates come with fresh warnings ringing in their ears that the global economy as we know it is in danger.

However there is a real scepticism that the conference will be able to meet the challenges it face, says the BBC's Nik Gowing.