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Seven Years after the Crisis: Intersecting Perspectives

From

04
9:00 am January 2016

To

04
6:30 pm January 2016

Bruegel and OCP Policy Center, in partnership with Compagnia di San Paolo, are organizing a conference under the theme of “Seven Years after the Crisis: Intersecting Perspectives” in the context of a “Platform for Advanced & Emerging Economies Policy Dialogue” to take place from 31 March to 1st April 2016 in Rabat, Morocco.

The aim is to establish an ambitious, yet timely, platform for policy dialogue between MENA emerging economies on one hand and advanced economies on the other.

Taking into account the recent global economic evolution, the organizers are convinced that such a platform will promote a much-needed dialogue amongst northern and southern economic thought leaders with publications for a wider dissemination.

“Seven Years after the Crisis: Intersecting Perspectives”

Platform for Advanced & Emerging Economies Policy Dialogue

Panel I: Long-term Growth Strategies for Advanced and Emerging Economies

Several years after the crisis, economic recovery is still fragile, especially in Europe. The expectations of growth are decreasing and take-off is struggling from feeble demand from developed countries, pushing developing ones to seek alternative growth strategies. These challenges have constrained structural transformations which would enable new growth drivers. This session aims at shedding light on the different impediments to long-term growth after the crisis for both advanced and emerging economies, putting focus on the strengths and weaknesses of current strategies to transform the current unfavourable situation into an opportunity to design more efficient growth paths.

Panel II: Industrial Policy- Taking Stock of Post-Crisis Industries in Advanced Economies and the Evolution of Industries in Emerging MENA Countries

Emerging economies are playing a growing role in the global economy thanks to their engagement in global value chains (GVCs) that have allowed countries to integrate rapidly in the global economy. While integration into GVCs by emerging economies has the potential to contribute to rapid growth in exports, employment and economic growth in these countries, it is only one, albeit important, stepping stone for economic development.  This session will take stock of industrial policy in advanced economies as well as the evolution of industries, and their role in GVCs, in emerging countries.

Panel III: Rethinking the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Relations Bruegel

In addition to geopolitical instability, countries located along the Southern shore of the Mediterranean face a range of pressing socio-economic challenges, including solving the problems of poverty and high levels of structural unemployment, in a context of fast demographic growth. Access to energy is essential to enable socio-economic development. The current energy situation in Southern Mediterranean countries is characterised by a rapid increase of energy demand, low energy efficiency and low domestic energy prices due to universal energy subsidies. In short, the current energy situation does not appear sustainable and poses several risks to the prospects of socio-economic development of the region. This panel will investigate how the EU could formulate a new cooperation with Southern Mediterranean countries to enhance the sustainability of the regional energy systems, also in the framework of the Energy Union and of the evolving European Neighbourhood Policy.

Panel IV: Youth unemployment in developed and emerging economies

The stubbornly high rate of unemployment and its persistence since the crisis is a problem for both developed and emerging countries. These rates are unfortunately more alarming when referring to the youth in emerging countries. Fuelling these high figures are certain factors making it hard for younger job seekers to secure one. To name a few, the job creation rate is low, the job market laws are rigid and the education system is not adequate to employers’ needs. With this in mind, this panel aims to discuss the aforementioned factors, both structural and short-term, fuelling the increasing unemployment as well as suggesting solutions that can help reverse this trend both in developed and emerging economies.

 

About Bruegel

Bruegel is a European think tank that specialises in economics. Established in 2005, it is independent and non-doctrinal. Bruegel’s mission is to improve the quality of economic policy with open and fact-based research, analysis and debate. We are committed to impartiality, openness and excellence. Bruegel’s membership includes EU Member State governments, international corporations and institutions.

Through publications, events, social media, and a lively blog, Bruegel has carved a unique discussion space for everyone interested in improving the quality of economic policy. Through a dual focus on analysis and impact, and dynamic relationships with policymakers at every governance level, it has also established itself as a vibrant laboratory for economic policies.

 Agenda

 

Friday 1st April 2016

Meeting Venue: Conference Room at OCP Policy Center Rabat

09:15 – 09:30

Opening remarks

- Guntram Wolff, Director, Bruegel
- Karim El Aynaoui, Managing Director, OCP Policy Center
- Nicolò Russo Perez, Head, International Affairs Program, Compagnia di San Paolo

09:30 – 10:45

PANEL I: LONG-TERM GROWTH STRATEGIES FOR ADVANCED AND EMERGING ECONOMIES
Several years after the crisis, economic recovery is still fragile, especially in Europe. The expectations of growth are decreasing and take-off is struggling from feeble demand from developed countries, pushing developing ones to seek alternative growth strategies. These challenges have constrained structural transformations which would enable new growth drivers. This session aims at shedding light on the different impediments to long-term growth after the crisis for both advanced and emerging economies, putting focus on the strengths and weaknesses of current strategies to transform the current unfavourable situation into an opportunity to design more efficient growth paths.

CHAIR
Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, Country Director for the Maghreb, World Bank

AUTHOR(S) OF PAPER
Karim El Aynaoui, Managing Director, OCP Policy Center
Uri Dadush, Senior Fellow, OCP Policy Center
Karim El Mokri, Senior Economist, OCP Policy Center
Rim Berahab, Research Assistant, OCP Policy Center

SPEAKERS
Marek Dabrowski, Professor, Higher School of Economics in Moscow and Non Resident Fellow, Bruegel
Heliodoro Temprano Arroyo, Head of Unit "Neighbourhood Countries and Macro-Financial Assistance", DG ECFI
Uri Dadush, Carnegie’s International Economics Program & OCP Policy Center

10:45 – 11:15

Coffee Break

11:15 – 12:30

PANEL II: INDUSTRIAL POLICY- TAKING STOCK OF POST-CRISIS INDUSTRIES IN ADVANCED ECONOMIES AND THE EVOLUTION OF INDUSTRIES IN EMERGING MENA COUNTRIES

Emerging economies are playing a growing role in the global economy thanks to their engagement in global value chains (GVCs) that have allowed countries to integrate rapidly in the global economy. While integration into GVCs by emerging economies has the potential to contribute to rapid growth in exports, employment and economic growth in these countries, it is only one, albeit important, stepping stone for economic development.  This session will take stock of industrial policy in advanced economies as well as the evolution of industries, and their role in GVCs, in emerging countries.

CHAIR
Dominique Bocquet, General Finance and Economic Controller, Ministry of Finance, France    

AUTHOR(S) OF PAPER
- Hinh Dinh, Senior Fellow, OCP Policy Center
- Abdelaziz Ait Ali, Economist, OCP Policy Center
- Yassine Msadfa, Research Assistant, OCP Policy Center

SPEAKERS
- Hakim Ben Hammouda, Former Minister of Finance, Tunisia
- Ted Moran, Professor, Georgetown University and Non Resident Fellow, PIIE
- Chiedu Osakwe, Director of the Accessions Division, WTO

12:45 – 14:00

Lunch Break

14:10 – 14:30

Keynote Speech: Ministry of Economy and Finance, Morocco

14:30 – 15:45

PANEL III: RETHINKING THE EURO-MEDITERRANEAN ENERGY RELATIONS
In addition to geopolitical instability, countries located along the Southern shore of the Mediterranean face a range of pressing macro- and socio-economic challenges, including solving the problems of poverty and high levels of structural unemployment, in a context of fast demographic growth as well as the windfall of oil revenues. Access to energy is essential to enable socio-economic development. The current energy situation in Southern Mediterranean countries is characterized by a rapid increase of energy demand, low energy efficiency and low domestic energy prices due to universal energy subsidies. In short, the current energy situation does not appear sustainable and poses several risks to the prospects of socio-economic development of the region. This panel will investigate how the EU could formulate a new cooperation with Southern Mediterranean countries to enhance the sustainability of the regional energy systems, also in the framework of the Energy Union and of the evolving European Neighbourhood Policy.

CHAIR
Manfred Hafner, Professor, John Hopkins University SAIS & Sciences Po

AUTHOR(S) OF PAPER
- Simone Tagliapietra, Research Fellow, Bruegel
- Georg Zachmann, Senior Fellow, Bruegel

SPEAKERS
- Laura El-Katiri, Energy Expert
- Mehmet Öğütçü, Chairman, Bosphorus Energy Club
- Marco Raganella, Head of Business Development Maghreb, Enel Green Power S.p.A

15:45 – 16:00

Coffee Break

16:00 – 17:15

PANEL IV: YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN DEVELOPED AND EMERGING ECONOMIES
The stubbornly high rate of unemployment and its persistence since the crisis is a problem for both developed and emerging countries. These rates are unfortunately more alarming when referring to the youth in emerging countries. Fuelling these high figures are certain factors making it hard for younger job seekers to secure one. To name a few, the job creation rate is low, the job market laws are rigid and the education system is not adequate to employers’ needs. With this in mind, this panel aims to discuss the aforementioned factors, both structural and short-term, fuelling the increasing unemployment as well as suggesting solutions that can help reverse this trend both in developed and emerging economies.

CHAIR
Malika Laasri Lahou, CEO for Morocco, Education for Employment

AUTHOR(S) OF PAPER
- Nuria Boot, Research Assistant, Bruegel
- Karen Wilson, Senior Fellow, Bruegel
- Guntram Wolff, Director, Bruegel

SPEAKERS
- Stefano Sacchi, Affiliate, University of Milan and ISFOL, Rome
- Daniela Zampini, Employment Specialist, International Labour Office

17:15 – 17:30

Coffee Break

17:15 – 18:30

POLICY PANEL
This high-level panel will be an opportunity for seasoned policy makers to discuss appropriate policy responses to sluggish growth, rapidly changing market structures, uncoordinated trade policies to name a few of the challenges policy makers have to face nowadays.
    
CHAIR
Guntram Wolff, Director, Bruegel

SPEAKERS
- Edward Scicluna, Minister for Finance, Malta
- Iñigo Fernandez de Mesa, State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Support for Business, Spain
- Ahmed Rahhou, President, Economic Affairs and Strategic Projects, CESE, Director, Business Climate and PPP, Confederation of Moroccan Enterprise

Speakers