Your questions answered: whether it’s about careers at the ECB, how our work affects people and businesses, or how we plan to tackle global challenges, we tackle listeners’ questions in this #AskECB episode of The ECB Podcast.  

Join our host Stefania Secola as she talks to colleagues Eglantine Devaux and Gabriel Glöckler.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 25 February 2025 and recorded on 20 February 2025.

In this episode:
00:36 Your questions answered
You, our listeners, sent us your burning questions on social media. What did you want to know? And who do we have onboard to answer your questions?

01:54 Working at the European Central Bank
What does it take to join the team? How do we nurture and grow talent? And what are the advantages of working in such a diverse environment? 

08:34 Small businesses and consumers 
How do our monetary policy decisions affect small businesses and consumers? How does this relate to our mission? We tackle these questions by looking at the example of a garden centre.

08:54 Stable, predictable changes in prices
How do we keep prices stable? What tools do we have available? And how does our price stability objective help motivate us?

14:47 Facing global economic challenges
What challenges lie ahead? How can we respond to uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and a changing climate? 

16:19 The challenge posed by tariffs
How will tariffs impact our economies, and what about inflation? 

18:27 Europe’s potential
What opportunities can we harness as Europeans? And what could they mean for our economy?

22:43 Communication among central banks worldwide
How do we work together? Are there particular structures in place? And what topics do we discuss?

27:49 Our guests’ hot tips
Eglantine and Gabriel share their hot tips with our listeners. 

Further readings:
ECB vacancies
https://talent.ecb.europa.eu/careers

Graduate programme
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/careers/what-we-offer/graduate/html/index.en.html

Traineeship
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/careers/what-we-offer/traineeship/html/index.en.html

What we offer
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/careers/what-we-offer/benefits/html/index.en.html

IMF - Ask an Economist https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmYAE4wV1YQzDbnDZlNJoqMhIDUQpEPTZ

IMF - Back to Basics https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmYAE4wV1YQyRb6H1_XJWY73HJVdR6oBX

IMF- Analyze This! https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmYAE4wV1YQz_LzOLaKTpDWyH93SNuF7x

IMF - Charts in Motion https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmYAE4wV1YQz6xXWx5eB7uT9zE-4KcmAZ

ECB - Espresso Economics
https://www.youtube.com/@Espresso_Economics  

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/ 

European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu 

ECB Banking Supervision
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

Lifeline

You ask, we answer: careers, inflation and cooperation

We need financial literacy to make good financial decisions. But did you know that half of Europeans have low financial literacy levels, and that 60% of them are women?

Our host Stefania Secola talks to Annamaria Lusardi from Stanford University about what financial literacy is, why it matters and how we can improve it, especially among women.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 13 March 2025 and recorded on 7 March 2025.

In this episode:

00:01 Commitments made by central banks
How did central bank Governors commit to improving financial literacy in their respective countries? What are the desired outcomes? 

00:27 Looking at the numbers 
How financially literate are Europeans? How big is the gap between men and women? And what can we do about it?

01:55 Financial literacy defined  
What is financial literacy? How does it relate to financial independence?
 
03:58 Measuring financial literacy
There are three simple questions, known as the “Big Three”, that experts use to measure financial literacy. Can you, our listener, answer them?

05:59 Why central banks care about financial literacy
Why does financial literacy matter for central banks? How does it relate to the effectiveness of monetary policy  and trust in what a central bank does? And how does it affect banking supervision?

10:53 Financial knowledge in Europe
Why is financial literacy in Europe so low? What can we do to increase the overall level of financial literacy among Europeans? 

12:30 When to start addressing financial literacy
When is the best time to improve people’s financial literacy? Is it limited to schools or are there also other teachable moments?

15:50 The gender gap in financial literacy
Why is there this gender gap and why is it a problem? What can we do to make sure that half the population isn’t left behind?

20:14 The role of fintech
Does fintech complement financial literacy? What risks do gender differences in digital literacy pose when it comes to using fintech?

22:26 The road ahead
Central banks made five commitments to improve financial literacy. What are these commitments?

24:50 Financial literacy question: answer revealed 
We answer the first “Big Three” question. Listen and see whether you chose the correct answer!

25:45 Our guest’s hot tip
Annamaria shares her hot tip with our listeners. 

Further reading: 

Annamaria Lusardi’s research
https://www.annamarialusardi.com/research/

ECB International Women’s Day Event 2025
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/20250307_intl_womens_day.en.html

The ECB Blog: The gender gap at work is closing – but slowly
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2025/html/ecb.blog20250307~85fd774bd3.en.html

The “Big Three” and “Big Five”
https://gflec.org/education/questions-that-indicate-financial-literacy/

Chart: Gender gap in financial literacy is pervasive, incl. the young, well educated and high income
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvVzgcXCFBw&t=222s

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/ 

European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu 

ECB Banking Supervision
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

Mind the gap: gender and financial literacy

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Akermon Rossenfeld CO Shares 7 Tips to Prevent Bad Debt Losses

Will AI take our jobs? Does AI boost economic productivity? Is it a choice of going green or going digital?

Our host Paul Gordon talks to ECB colleagues António Dias da Silva, Guzmán González-Torres Fernández and Miles Parker to find out what AI means for the economy, especially for productivity, job prospects and energy supply.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 9 April 2025 and recorded on 3 April 2025.

In this episode:
00:55 Is AI replacing jobs?
Can AI ever replace jobs in journalism or film-making? Will AI be our next podcast host?

02:14 Is AI a job changer? 
How are new technologies changing our jobs? 

04:00 Age, education and gender
Who uses AI and how do people feel about it? Does AI usage differ based on age, education and gender?

06:57 Sectors with the highest AI usage
Which sectors use AI the most? What’s behind the different attitudes towards AI in different areas of the economy?

09:00 Corporate usage of AI
What do companies need to effectively use AI? 

11:02 How does AI affect productivity?
How can AI be put to good use? To what extent can Europe’s economy grow with current AI usage? Is the world ready for AI?

13:29 The role of policymakers 
How can policymakers make it easier for companies to use AI? 

15:10 AI and energy consumption
How much energy does AI need? How much energy does ChatGPT use for one search? Will energy demand go up or down?

17:15 Go green or go digital? 
Do we need to choose or does AI allow both? How could AI help the green transition? 

19:10 Obstacles
What are the roadblocks to the green and digital transitions? What investment is needed to make these transitions a success? What else needs to be done? 

21:50 Our guests’ hot tips
António, Guzmán and Miles share their hot tips with our listeners. 

Further reading:
The ECB Blog: AI adoption and employment prospects
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2025/html/ecb.blog20250321~6af1337b6b.en.html 

The ECB Blog: AI versus green: clash of the transitions?
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2025/html/ecb.blog20250325~ed12b0ff35.en.html 

The ECB Blog: AI can boost productivity – if firms use it
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2025/html/ecb.blog20250328~60c0a587f7.en.html 

Hot tip from António: Tech-focused podcast Babbage by The Economist https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/babbage 

Hot tip from Guzmán: The ECB recent conference on “The transformative power of AI: economic implications and challenges”
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/20250401_transformative_power_of_ai.en.html 

Hot tip from Miles: International Energy Agency website
https://www.iea.org/ 

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/ 

European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu 

ECB Banking Supervision
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

AI: economic game changer or job taker?

We live in an increasingly uncertain world. But what are the economic and financial implications of such turbulent times? What does it mean for Europe’s banking and non-bank sectors, companies, households, and government finances? And how can Europe navigate such volatility?

Our host Paul Gordon discusses these questions and more with expert John Fell in the latest episode of The ECB Podcast. 

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 22 May 2025 and recorded on 16 May 2025.

In this episode: 
01:50 Geopolitical developments and global financial imbalances
How did markets react to the high level of uncertainty?

05:10 Safe havens
What are safe havens? What happened to US government bonds?

09:08 Europe’s reaction
Can Europe afford the increased spending in security and defense? What happens to other structural challenges? 

13:18 Potential unexpected consequences
What positive benefits can defence spending bring? Can it boost growth? What are the solutions to instabilities that might bring?

16:33 Our guest’s hot tip
John shares his hot tip with our listeners.

Further readings: 
Financial Stability Review, May 2025 
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/html/index.en.html
 
Our guest’s hot tip: When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management by Roger Lowenstein 
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/When-Genius-Failed-Long-Term-Management/dp/0375758259 

European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu

Trade, tensions, tariffs... and a whole world of uncertainty

How does geopolitical uncertainty affect inflation? How do we keep monetary policy fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world? And what are the main topics at this year’s ECB Forum in Sintra, Portugal?

In the first episode of our special Sintra series for The ECB Podcast, our host Paul Gordon discusses all these questions and more with Chief Economist and Executive Board member, Philip R. Lane.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 25 June 2025 and recorded on 16 June 2025.

In this episode:
01:28 The ECB Governing Council lowered key interest rates to 2%.
What was the motivation behind the decision? 

04:30 How do we ensure that risks and uncertainties are integrated into the monetary policy decision-making process?
What is our baseline? What factors need to be taken into account?

06:44 Alternative scenarios in the latest projections
Why do we communicate our “what if” scenarios?

08:11 Meeting-by-meeting, data-dependent approach 
Why do we follow this approach? 

09:50 Strategy review 
How can we make sure our strategy is up to date? 

12:02 High-level uncertainty
How do we factor heightened uncertainty in our strategy?

13:50 ECB Forum on Central Banking in Sintra, Portugal
What is the ECB Forum and what’s behind it? What’s the goal of the Forum? What’s Philip R. Lane looking forward to? 

16:53 Our guest’s hot tip
Philip R. Lane shares his hot tip.


Programme of ECB Forum on Central Banking in Sintra, Portugal 
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/20250630_ecb_forum_on_central_banking.en.html 
Ken Rogoff "Our dollar, your problem"
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300275315/our-dollar-your-problem/ 
ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/ 
European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu 
ECB Banking Supervision
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

Adapting to change: Ensuring price stability in a new geopolitical era

Tariffs and geopolitical conflicts have created uncertainty around the world. But how does the new trade environment affect inflation and the economy? How can central banks adapt? And what is the potential impact on the dominance of the US dollar ? 

In the third episode of our special Sintra series of the ECB Podcast, our host Paul Gordon talks to London School of Economics Professor Silvana Tenreyro.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 4 July 2025 and recorded on 1 July 2025.

In this episode:
01:30 How is the world economy doing?
What developments are having an impact on our economy today? And what uncertainties are arising from tariffs, trade fragmentation and armed conflicts in different parts of the world?

03:30 Tariffs, trade fragmentation and the economy
How can trade tariffs and fragmentation affect economic growth and inflation in the euro area and beyond?

06:25 How are prices changing?
How are prices changing in different countries? Will tariffs cause prices in the United States to rise, and those in Asia and Europe to fall? And why?

07:55 Lessons for central banks
Given the extremely high level of uncertainty, what lessons from past shocks can central banks apply in the future? Why do we need clearly defined frameworks? And what role do governments play?

09:55 How can governments prepare for potential shocks?
Investing in technologies that are difficult to substitute, diversifying energy sources and creating buffers for critical inputs – why it’s crucial that governments have a strategy to withstand various shocks.

12:05 What is a dominant currency?
When is a currency considered internationally “dominant”? And what dominant currencies have there been in the past?

13:40 Dollar dominance and monetary policy transmission
Does dollar dominance in international trade transactions reduce the effectiveness of monetary policy?

17:30 The future of dollar dominance
How will the dominance of the US dollar develop in the future? Is its role as a primary reserve currency at risk due to the Trump Administration’s policies?

19:10 What keeps you up at night?
What happens to our economy if there is a sudden shortage of a certain input? What impact will AI have if it remains largely unregulated? And what do stablecoins and digital currencies mean for our economy?

21:00 Our guest’s hot tip

Silvana shares her hot tip with our listeners. 

Further readings:

Michael McLeay and Silvana Tenreyro: Dollar dominance and the transmission of monetary policy
https://personal.lse.ac.uk/tenreyro/dominant_currency.pdf

Sintra Series episode 1/4: Price stability in times of change
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/tvservices/podcast/html/ecb.pod250702_episode110.en.html

Sintra Series episode 2/4: Adapting to change: Ensuring price stability in a new geopolitical era
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/tvservices/podcast/html/ecb.pod250625_episode109.en.html

Silvana’s hot tip
I’m still here/Ainda estou aqui

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/

Challenges and opportunities: what lies ahead for the world economy?

Can an increase in defence spending affect investments in green energy and digital infrastructure? What do US tariff threats mean for the ECB? How does the ECB support smaller countries in the Eurosystem? And is AI an opportunity or a risk for the financial future?

In the last episode of our Sintra series, our host Stefania Secola takes us on a walk around the ECB Forum and gets top experts to answer your questions.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 9 July 2025 and recorded during the ECB Forum on Central Banking in Sintra between 30 June and 2 July 2025.

In this episode:
02:05 Defence spending
Can an increase in defence spending affect investments in green energy and digital infrastructure?

08:08 Tariffs
How do US tariff threats affect the economy? What do they mean for the ECB? And what are the opportunities for Europe?

14:14 Smaller vs. bigger economies in the Eurosystem
Does the ECB prioritise bigger economies over smaller ones? Do smaller countries, such as Slovenia, benefit from the ECB’s monetary policy?

18:55 Artificial intelligence
Is AI an opportunity or a risk for the financial future?

Further readings: 
Gensler, G., Johnson, S., Panizza, U. and Weder di Mauro, B.: The Economic Consequences of The Second Trump Administration: A Preliminary Assessment
https://cepr.org/publications/books-and-reports/economic-consequences-second-trump-administration-preliminary

The ECB Podcast: AI: economic game changer or job taker?
https://soundcloud.com/europeancentralbank/ai-economic-game-changer-or-job-taker

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/



Ask the ECB Forum: defence, tariffs and AI – insights from top experts


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The European Central Bank Podcast – bringing you insights into the world of economics and central banking. 

Our hosts Paul Gordon and Stefania Secola talk to experts about the topics and trends that matter to the eurozone economy today.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

New tracks tagged #FinancialStability