Robert Kollmann's picture
Affiliation: 
Université Libre de Bruxelles
Credentials: 
Professor of Economics
Research Fellow, CEPR
PhD, University of Chicago

Voting history

Artificial Intelligence and the Economy

Question 2: What will be the implications of recent developments in AI on unemployment in high income countries over the upcoming decade?

Answer:
Remain unchanged
Confidence level:
Not confident
Comment:
Will AI have a major effect on the market frictions and rigidities that determine trend unemployment? Probably not.

Question 1: What will be the implications of recent developments in AI on global economic growth, as they mature over the upcoming decade?

Answer:
Increase (to 4-6%)
Confidence level:
Not confident
Comment:
The trend growth rate of global GDP has been remarkably stable since the mid-1970s, despite major technological advances (ICT revolution) and structural changes (e.g., collapse of communism, trade liberalization). It seems unlikely that the long-term trend growth rate of world GDP will be greatly affected by AI. But in the short to medium term (i.e., over the next decade), global growth could increase slightly, say by 0.5%, due to AI.

Prospects for Euro Area Inflation in 2023

Question 2: Relative to market forecasts of the ECB’s MRO rate peaking at 3.5%, which of the following is more likely during 2023?

Answer:
The MRO rate will peak above 3.5%.
Confidence level:
Not confident
Comment:
Given that Eurozone headline and core inflation rates were close to 9% and 6%, respectively, in January 2023, the ECB should raise the policy rate much higher than 3.5% in 2023. If the fight against inflation is lost, the ECB’s reputation will be damaged for years to come. As a result, it is likely that the MRO rate will be raised to above 3.5% in 2023.

Question 1: How likely is it that peak headline euro area inflation is behind us?

Answer:
Roughly even odds
Confidence level:
Not confident at all
Comment:
The outlook for inflation in the Eurozone is extremely uncertain, so it is currently impossible to tell whether inflation has reached a turning point. This uncertainty is due to several important factors, including the ECB's willingness to continue to raise interest rates, fiscal risks and ongoing developments in the war in Ukraine.

Question 3:  Under its current policy trajectory, with rates peaking at 3.5%, which of the following is most likely?

Answer:
ECB policy interest rates will be too low in 2023.
Confidence level:
Confident

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