Between sessions and after seminars, Condé Nast Portfolio editors in Davos, Switzerland, have asked participants their impressions of the World Economic Forum annual meeting. Here is a sampling of what they have to say.

Adam Bly, editor and founder, Seed magazine

Consequently, science's place on the agenda in Davos is heightened and has evolved here from a subject of interest to a first principle of good governance and growth, echoing President Obama's point of view. Science has been highlighted by leaders from the East and the West, the developed and the developing world, as a foundation to sustainable economic growth and responsible stewardship of our planet. In this moment of crisis, some long-term good may emerge by restoring science to its rightful place. 

Peter Thiel, president of Clarium Capital Management

Even though most people are pessimistic, their pessimism doesn't encompass the deep anger directed against the political establishment of the West. As in the past the angry people are simply not represented.

Kenneth Rogoff, Harvard economics professor

Paul Roberts, author of The End of Oil

Oil's not going to get more expensive anytime soon. There's a whole bunch of oil on the market but there's also extra production capacity. These economies based on high oil prices are going to have to get creative.

They tend to get feisty. You're going to see a lot of finger pointing.

Reid Hoffman, CEO of LinkedIn

Fundamentally what leads to recession is people stop spending, which takes business into a spiral down. How do you get that system to reverse? From a government perspective they'll say things like stimulus package. I'm more interested in finding out how individuals [will act].

I end up talking to a lot of Silicon Valley people, and Silicon Valley people are always optimistic. But talk to other people and they might be backordering their Prozac.