AI, Demographics and China
In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Bruegel researchers Maria‑Catharina Loro, Tilman Schenk, and Theo Storella discuss three intertwined megatrends: aging demographics, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, and China’s evolving economic role. Loro explains how global population growth is reversing, with aging societies—especially in Europe and China—pressuring pension systems, long‑term care, and labor supply, while highlighting the need for healthier aging policies. Schenk outlines the exponential advances in AI, noting its transformative potential for productivity and security, yet warns that institutions remain under‑prepared for its societal and geopolitical impacts. Storella examines China’s demographic slowdown, its push for AI‑driven productivity to offset a shrinking workforce, and the broader implications for EU trade, supply chains, and strategic competition.
What You Need to Know About ETS
In this episode of the Sound of Economics, Bruegel economists Simone Talia Pietra and Flora Marchioro explain the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and its upcoming fifth review, emphasizing its role as a cost‑efficient tool for decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness....
Weapons, War and Confusion
In this episode of the Sound of Economics, host Rebecca Christie talks with defense economists Gunther Wolf and journalist Sharon Weinberger about the shifting economics of defense on both sides of the Atlantic. They explore how the war in Ukraine...
Why Are Global Imbalances Rising, and Why Does It Matter?
In this episode of the Sound of Economics, Bruegel director Jermyn Zettelmeier and CEPR president Beatrice Vedder de Mauro discuss the 2023 Paris Report on global imbalances, tracing their historical evolution and highlighting why they matter again today. They explain...
Europe’s Electric Vehicle Conundrum
The episode examines Europe’s dual transition: decarbonising transport through rapid EV adoption and maintaining a competitive automotive industry amid Chinese overcapacity and shifting US subsidies. Guests explain how the EU’s reliance on Chinese batteries and EVs threatens supply‑chain resilience, while...
Montenegro’s Power Connection to the EU
In this episode of the Sound of Economics, Montenegro’s Minister of Energy and Mining, Admir Shachmanović, outlines the country’s strategy to become a regional renewable energy hub and integrate its electricity market with the EU ahead of formal accession. He highlights...
What the Heck Is a 28th Regime?
In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Bruegel experts Reinhilde Wöglers, Fiona Scott Morton, and Professor Tobias Tröger discuss the European Commission’s new “28th regime” – a voluntary corporate‑law tool aimed at simplifying company formation and attracting venture‑capital investment across...
Inflation, Iran and the Industrial Accelerator Act
In this episode of the Sound of Economics, former Dutch central bank governor Klaas Knopp and Bruegel director Jeremy Zentelmeier assess Europe’s economic outlook amid the new Israel‑Iran conflict, highlighting the region’s surprising resilience but warning of a negative supply shock from...