World Economic Forum

Personal data: The emergence of a new asset class

Personal data could become an asset class, but government and industry leaders must first address fears about misuse.

By Klaus Schwab, Alan Marcus, Justin Rico Oyola, William Hoffman, and Michele Luzi

Published on February 07, 2011
min read


The mountain of personal data about each of us is growing larger—and more valuable—every day. Indeed, personal data will soon emerge as a new asset class, but only if new legal, cultural, technological and economic infrastructures also arise to address concerns over potential misuse. Bain & Company collaborated with the World Economic Forum to develop a guiding set of global principles to help in the evolution of a balanced personal data ecosystem. Download the full report.

The mountain of personal data about each of us is growing larger—and more valuable—every day. Indeed, personal data will soon emerge as a new asset class, but only if new legal, cultural, technological and economic infrastructures also arise to address concerns over potential misuse.

Bain & Company collaborated with the World Economic Forum to develop a guiding set of global principles to help in the evolution of a balanced personal data ecosystem.

Download the full report.