IE Masterclass: Global economic challenges and opportunities for the XXI Century

The world economy is going through deep, long-term shifts that are redrawing the map of growth for the coming decades. Five forces stand out: the exponential pace of technological change, led by artificial intelligence; the blurring of the traditional borders between industries; the shift of economic weight towards emerging economies, driven by demographics and a rising middle class; the macroeconomic challenges of a more fragmented world, from historically high public debt and persistent inflation to rising trade tensions; and the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy. 

Each of these forces opens significant opportunities, but also carries risks that countries, companies and professionals need to understand well. 

Luis Maldonado is a financial sector economist with more than 25 years of experience. He has been a professor at IE University since 2013 and is a consultant on Digital Financial Services and Sustainability for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank, among other institutions. He is also a senior advisor at Beka Finance and has served on the boards of several regulated companies. He has held senior roles in both the public and private sectors, including advisor to Spain's Vice-President and Minister of Economy, CSO and executive committee member at Bankia (now CaixaBank), Director of Strategic Consulting for the Financial Sector at PwC Spain, Managing Director of the PwC–IE Business School Financial Sector, and senior advisor at Everis (now NTT Data).