Future is Blue: Recent Episodes
Funcas Europe - Agenda Pública
Future is blue is a series of podcasts promoted by Funcas Europe bringing together academia, think tanks and policymakers for a more inspiring debate about European economic affairs
In this Future is Blue podcast episode, we cover the following questions about AI and the financial sector:
- How AI is being adopted by the financial sector, particularly
in Europe. - What are some of the major applications of AI within financial services to date?
- Key takeaways from all this as we look to the future of AI in
banking?
You can access here the latest SEFO report including an article about AI and finance.
The impact of Artificial Intelligence on labor markets is a complex topic. While AI has the potential to create new opportunities and increase productivity, it also raises real concerns about job displacement and changing workforce dynamics.
To cover this subject we've been joined by Maria Jepsen, Deputy Director at Eurofound, the European Foundation for the improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Maria is featured in our new podcast episode, in conversation with our host, Carlos Carnicero Urabayen.
Joaquin Almunia, who’s chairman of the CEPS think tank Board and former European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs and former Vice president of the European Commission, discusses how the EU can be ready to compete in a world dominated by a global economic race between the US and China. Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director joins the discussion hosted by Carlos Carnicero Urabayen.
In this show our host Carlos Carnicero Urabayen talks to Sander Tordoir, Senior Economist at the Centre for European Reform, and Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director, about how can Europe implement the China policy it needs for a successful relationship with Asia's superpower.
In our new podcast episode Alice Faibishenko, Senior Advisor at Funcas, presents some of the key insights that are included in the latest SEFO report by Funcas, touching on the global economic outlook, how Spain is dealing with inflation and what segments of the population are more exposed to the effects of inflation. The show is presented by Carlos Carnicero Urabayen.
The SEFO report is accessible here.
In this podcast episode we analyse the key economic challenges that the new Italian government has to deal with. We are joined by Prof. Giorgia Giovannetti, Vice President for International Relations at Firenze University, Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director. Future is blue host Carlos Carnicero Urabayen presents this podcast.
In this new episode Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director, talks with Carlos Carnicero Urabayen, Future is blue host, about the recent global trends pointing towards a deglobalisation process: Coronavirus lockdowns, the Chinese zero Covid policy, the war in Ukraine and other factors disrupting global supply chains.
In our episode Carlos Carnicero Urabayen interviews Francesco Sassi, Researcher specialized in Energy, Geopolitics, and Markets at RIE think tank in Bologna, Italy, to analyse how different EU Member States are dealing with the energy crisis.
These are the specific questions that we cover in today's show:
1. What are the latest EU decisions or announcements concerning energy markets?
2. To what extent will these measures appease inflationary pressures?
3. Is a recession in the EU unavoidable, in light of the trends in gas markets?
4. What are the key areas where further progress is needed in order for the EU to reach the goal of strategic autonomy with respect to energy?
In our episode we cover inflation, Europe's plans to cope with gas scarcity, the reform of the electricity system in Europe and the elections in Italy.
You can access here the Funcas latest SEFO report with key insights on topics such as the ECB policy dilemmas and the state of the Spanish economy and its banks, among other topics.
Raymond Torres analyses the latest decisions by the European Central Bank, including the 0.5% increase in interest rates and the announcement of the TPI mechanism to prevent another Eurozone debt crisis. Carlos Carnicero Urabayen hosts the discussion.
Carlos Carnicero Urabayen interviews Judit Montoriol Garriga, Lead economist at CaixaBank Research to talk about the current situation of the housing market and the risks that another recession may bring.
Iain Begg has recently published Stagflation: the return of an unwelcome monster
In our conversation we cover the drivers of the current economic situation and we analyse why it is so difficult for policymakers to get the right answer when it comes to dealing with stagflation. We also touch on Europe's energy dependence from Russia and how the green transition can help to alleviate the current situation.
Ukraine is a major exporter of agricultural products, especially sunflower oil and wheat, but, due to the war, key export routes, through the country’s Black Sea ports, are now blocked because of a de-facto Russian naval blockade.
This is driving prices up for grain and cooking oil, making imports less affordable in poorer countries and contributing, together with rising energy prices, to a cost-of-living crisis even in rich economies, thereby further increasing the likelihood of a global recession.
The discussion with Alice Faibishenko is based on the latest SEFO report by Funcas, accessible in this link. The chapter about State guarantees and latent non-performance is available here.
A couple of months ago the European Commission announced the EU Chips Act, an initiative putting together 11 billions of public funds for the research, design and manufacture of semiconductors. The goal is to mobilise a total of 43 billion euros of public and private investment until 2030.
To discuss this crucial subject, we are joined in this podcast episode by Elena Pisonero, a top expert with plenty of entrepreneurial and business experience. She is the founder and CEO of Taldig, a business consulting agency. And before that she was president of Hispasat, Spain´s ambassador to the OECD and Spanish Secretary of State for Trade, Tourism and SMEs.
In this new episode we take a look at the following questions:
- Is the economic pain manageable for Russia as long as oil and gas stays out of this economic war?
- What would be the implications for both Russia and European economies if oil and gas are included in the sanctions mix?
- Is recession in Europe a real risk as the war's end is not in sight?
In this episode, we cover these questions: Can Europe afford to implement an energy embargo against Russia?, What are Russia's options to retaliate economically against the West? Will China step in and aid financially its Russian ally? Would it make a difference to include other Russian banks in the SWIFT ban?
Don't miss Zach Meyers new paper: The West needs a sanctions strategy
In this episode we discuss topics such as Europe’s dependency on Russian gas, the economic consequences of sanctions on Russia for European economies and the implications of the ongoing crisis on Europe’s energy transition plans.
Is the recovery strong enough? Are the EU Next Generation programs robust enough to keep the recovery momentum? How concerning is inflation? To get some answers we are joined by Jean Pisani-Ferry, Tommaso Padoa Shioppa chair of the European University Institute and Senior Fellow at Bruegel think tank, and Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director.
After an expansion of 5.5% in 2021, driven mostly by consumer spending a spike in investment and trade in goods above pre pandemic levels, global output is projected to grow by only 4% in 2022 and 3.5% in 2023.
There are a number of concerning factors for policymakers, such as the spread of new variants, persistent labour market and supply chain challenges, rising inflation…. Now, can any of this trigger a major crisis?
How can we reconcile the need of increasing green public investment in the EU while consolidating public deficits after the pandemic? Don't miss our discussion featuring Guntram B. Wolff, Director of Bruegel think tank, Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director, and Carlos Carnicero Urabayen, Future is blue host.
We continue our debate about the need for the EU to equip itself with new fiscal rules. A new pact is needed to preserve recovery, gradually consolidate public deficits and protect public investment, particularly green investment. Paul De Grauwe, John Paulson Chair in European Political Economy at the London School of Economics joins this conversation with Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director, and Carlos Carnicero Urabayen, Future is blue editorial coordinator.
The current rules were born in the 90s and, in a nutshell, they mandate Member States to keep public debt below 60% and public deficits below 3% of GDP. Fiscal rules were suspended last year so that Member States had fiscal margin to fight an unprecedented crisis. Now everyone seems to agree that we need a new framework.
In this episode we cover why the EU needs different fiscal rules and why a green golden rule may be a good idea. We also discuss the potential obstacles for reform.
Don't miss this episode if you want to know what are the key takeaways of the UN COP26 Glasgow summit.
We also take a look at how economic recovery can be affected by green transition plans. Is Europe doing enough to fight climate change? Can the green agenda be challenged by a cold and expensive winter? These are some of the questions driving the conversation between María Mendiluce and Raymond Torres.
There are not enough workers. Businesses are struggling to hire all the workers they need. As of the first quarter of 2021, the eurozone´s active workforce remained 2.6 million below pre-pandemic levels, while the US labour force still has almost 2 million fewer people.
What can policymakers in both side of the Atlantic do about it?
In this episode we are covering one of the most concerning developments we are witnessing over the past few weeks: the rising energy prices. As cold temperatures start knocking on our doors, some fear we are approaching an expensive winter that could complicate the green agenda. Don't miss this conversation hosted by Carlos Carnicero Urabayen with Annika Hedberg and Raymond Torres.
Olaf Scholz, the SPD candidate has come first with a very small margin. Presumably, he will try now to form a coalition with the Green Party and the liberals of FDP. This would be the so-called traffic light coalition (red, green and yellow). A Jamaica option is also on the table (with the CDU joined by Greens and Liberals).
Worth noting as well that in both traffic light and Jamaica option, the Greens would be positioned as the second partner. This should be important for the EU economic agenda, according to Peter Bofinger
Raymond Torres in conversation with Carlos Carnicero Urabayen analyse the key economic risks for the rest of 2021.
Recovery is well under way and unemployment keeps falling in most EU countries. Pre-pandemic jobs levels are expected in the next few quarters. However, there are a few concerns to keep a close eye on over the next few months. Inflation, high levels of public debt and the capacity to combine economic life with a persistent pandemic are key economic concerns these days.
The pandemic has changed pretty much everything, forcing us to think of new ways of doing things. After more than a year of remote work, now that we are entering a postpandemic world, the future looks more and more hybrid, with a mix of office and home-based working. Automation and the digitalisation of most sectors is also happening at an unprecedented speed.
Now, what are the broader implications of these trends for our economies and our labour markets? Don't miss this discussion featuring Cécile Jolly and Raymond Torrres, moderated by Carlos Carnicero Urabayen
Is the global minimum tax such a revolutionary achievement as it sounds? Will multinationals find ways to escape the new tax system proposed at the heart of the G7? Is there a risk that a tax system of this nature can put at risk global recovery?
These are some of the questions that we address in this discussion hosted by Carlos Carnicero Urabayen and with the participation of Zach Meyers, research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, and Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director.
Miguel Carrión, Funcas Europe analyst, talks to Carlos Carnicero Urabayen about Spain’s recovery plan - what we know so far, what’s missing and how it can contribute to help the Spanish economy recover from the COVID shock.
Host: Carlos Carnicero Urabayen
A project of Funcas Europe. Produced by Agenda Pública.
Carlos Carnicero Urabayen hosts a discussion with Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director, and Lourdes Casanova, Gail and Rob Cañizares Director, Emerging Markets Institute, Cornell Univerisity, about the implications of the recent surge in commodities’ prices for Europe’s economic recovery and the balance of power between global powers in a post Corona world.”
Host: Carlos Carnicero Urabayen
Edition: Franco Delle Donne
A project of Funcas Europe. Produced by Agenda Pública.
A conversation about Italy’s economic prospects between Orsola Costantini and Raymond Torres, hosted by Carlos Carnicero Urabayen.
Our guests:
- Orsola Costantini, Economic affairs officer at UNCTAD.
- Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe director.
Host: Carlos Carnicero Urabayen
Edition: Franco Delle Donne
A project of Funcas Europe. Produced by Agenda Pública.
Christian Odendahl, Chief Economist at the Centre for European Reform, and Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director, discuss with Carlos Carnicero Urabayen the impact of vaccine delays in Europe for a covid-19 economic recovery.
Our guests:
- Christian Odendahl, analyst at UK in a Chanfing Europe.
- Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe director.
Host: Carlos Carnicero Urabayen
Edition: Franco Delle Donne
A project of Funcas Europe. Produced by Agenda Pública.
Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe Director, and Jill Rutter, Brexit analyst at Uk in a Changing Europe, analyse the new relationship between the EU and the UK.
Our guests:
- Jill Rutter, analyst at UK in a Chanfing Europe.
- Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe director.
Host: Carlos Carnicero Urabayen
Edition: Franco Delle Donne
A project of Funcas Europe. Produced by Agenda Pública.
From a European perspective, what will be the key developments to keep an eye on in 2021? Carlos Carnicero Urabayen talks to Iain Begg and Raymond Torres to analyse the prospects of an economic recovery, the relationship between the EU and the UK and what to expect from Biden at the White House.
Our guests:
- Iain Begg, professorial Research Fellow at the LSE and Funcas Europe.
- Raymond Torres, Funcas Europe director.
Host: Carlos Carnicero Urabayen
Edition: Franco Delle Donne
A project of Funcas Europe. Produced by Agenda Pública.