On September 16, I attended a high-level conference at IESE Business School that addressed a crucial question: how can the economy withstand an environment marked by political and war-related crises?
The speakers were Jordi Gual, former President of CaixaBank, whom I had the privilege of having as a professor when I did my MBA, and Oriol Aspachs, Director of Spanish Economy at CaixaBank Research.
The presentation highlighted several key takeaways:
- Immediate impact: international conflicts strain trade, energy prices, and inflation.
- Necessary responses: fiscal and monetary policies play a central role, although with more limited margins than in past crises.
- Medium-term outlook: crises accelerate structural changes, from the energy transition to the reorganisation of supply chains.
- Opportunities: countries and companies that adapt quickly can emerge stronger.
I want to underline the quality of the speakers and IESE, who managed to combine academic rigour with a clear and accessible vision on complex topics. It was yet another example of the school’s value as a reference forum for economic debate.
On a personal note, it was especially inspiring to return to IESE, where I completed my MBA and had the privilege of having Jordi Gual as my economics professor. His ability to connect theory and practice continues to shape the way I analyse the interaction between politics, geopolitics, and economics.
In short, the question “Will the economy hold?” may not have a single answer, but it does leave us with a hopeful message: resilience and adaptability will be key.
