The ECB Podcast
European Central Bank
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 3, 2024 • 1h 3min
Price stability in unstable times
ECB President Christine Lagarde, US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Governor of the Banco Central do Brasil Roberto Campos Neto sat down together to discuss the steps they’ve taken to fight inflation and reflect on the road ahead during the ECB Forum on Central Banking in Sintra, Portugal.
Recorded on 2 July 2024 and published on 3 July 2024.
2024 ECB Forum on Central Banking https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/ecbforum/html/index.en.html
The ECB Podcast - The road ahead: is there room for optimism?
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/tvservices/podcast/html/ecb.pod240627_episode86.en.html
European Central Bank
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html
European Banking Supervision
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

Jun 27, 2024 • 18min
The road ahead: is there room for optimism?
We just lowered our interest rates, as inflation is falling. But what was behind this decision? What is the state of our economy? And more importantly, what comes next?
Our new co-host Paul Gordon discusses these questions with our Chief Economist Philip R. Lane.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
Published on 27 June 2024 and recorded on 18 June 2024.
1:13 Our latest monetary policy decision
Why did the ECB’s Governing Council decide to lower its key interest rates? What were the determining factors?
5:10 The state of our economy
How has inflation evolved in recent months? Is the economy recovering? And how have wages and employment been affected?
8:36 Next steps
What are our next monetary policy steps? How will current uncertainty affect future decisions?
11:18 The ECB Forum in Sintra, Portugal
What can we expect from this year’s ECB Forum on Central Banking? And what is Chief Economist Philip R. Lane most looking forward?
15:45 Our guest’s hot tip
Chief Economist Philip R. Lane shares his hot tip with our listeners.
Philip R. Lane interview with Financial Times, 27 May 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/inter/date/2024/html/ecb.in240527~ffaddc865d.en.html
Philip R. Lane speech on Monetary policy and the disinflation process, 11 June 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/key/date/2024/html/ecb.sp240611~caf9681480.en.html
The ECB Podcast: Quo vadis, inflation? March 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/tvservices/podcast/html/ecb.pod240325_episode81.en.html
ECB Forum on Central Banking 2024 – programme
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/ecbforum/html/index.en.html
Young Economist Prize 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/ecbforum/YE_competition/html/index.en.html
European Central Bank
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html
European Banking Supervision
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

Jun 6, 2024 • 15min
President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 6 June 2024
President Christine Lagarde discusses recent ECB monetary policy decisions, including interest rate adjustments, inflation projections, and economic growth expectations. The Governing Council's commitment to a data-centered strategy and flexibility in reaching inflation goals are highlighted.

May 17, 2024 • 21min
Financial stability in a ChatGPT world
What does the rapid advance of AI mean for our financial system? And how is financial stability affected by geopolitical risk?
Our host Stefania Secola puts these questions to expert John Fell in The ECB Podcast’s regular look at financial stability in the euro area.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
Published on 17 May 2024 and recorded on 10 May 2024.
In this episode:
01:01 – How stable is our financial system right now?
Our latest financial stability assessment is more positive, but just how resilient is our financial system to shocks?
04:56 – What concerns does geopolitical risk raise?
How can geopolitical risk affect markets, banks and non-banks like investment funds, and what can financial institutions do to manage it?
09:55 – How can AI help the financial system?
Artificial intelligence offers promising ways to improve efficiency, customer service and risk management.
13:32 – Can AI be a source of systemic risk?
Widespread use of AI tools and reliance on a small number of suppliers could lead to financial stability risks.
19:13 – Our guest’s hot tip
Financial stability expert John Fell shares his hot tip with our listeners.
Further reading:
Financial Stability Review, May 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/html/index.en.html
Turbulent times: geopolitical risk and its impact on euro area financial stability (special feature A)
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/html/ecb.fsr202405~7f212449c8.en.html#toc33
The rise of artificial intelligence: benefits and risks for financial stability (special feature B)
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/financial-stability-publications/fsr/html/ecb.fsr202405~7f212449c8.en.html#toc34
The ECB Podcast: When the yin meets the yang: resilience in gloomy times, December 2023
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/tvservices/podcast/html/ecb.pod231202_episode74.en.html
European Central Bank www.ecb.europa.eu

Apr 26, 2024 • 26min
The power of inflation expectations
What are inflation expectations? How do our personal experiences shape them? And why do they matter to central banks?
In this episode of The ECB Podcast, our host Stefania Secola and researchers Geoff Kenny and Dimitris Georgarakos discuss how people form expectations about inflation and how we measure them.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
Published on 26 April 2024 and recorded on 19 April 2024.
In this episode:
01:35 – Inflation expectations
What are inflation expectations, and why do they matter for central banks? How do people form such expectations?
9:25 – The impact on prices
Can inflation expectations shape the prices we end up paying? How might personal perceptions influence wages?
11:30 – Measuring inflation expectations
Why is it important to measure inflation expectations, and how do we do it at the ECB? What were the findings of our latest survey?
16:38 – The role of the ECB
What can the ECB do to inform people’s inflation expectations? And what role can communication play in this?
21:15 – Our guests’ hot tips
ECB researchers Geoff Kenny and Dimitris Georgarakos share their hot tips and some final thoughts with our listeners.
ECB Consumer Expectations Survey
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/ecb_surveys/consumer_exp_survey/html/index.en.html
Working Paper: Tell me something I don’t already know: learning in low and high-inflation settings, March 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpwps/ecb.wp2914~d6a8832bf5.en.pdf?e655c8b68e7c2fb096387a4da34c42e6
Research Bulletin: Recent changes in consumers’ medium-term inflation expectations – a detailed look, February 2023
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/research-publications/resbull/2023/html/ecb.rb230224~558beec65c.en.html
Economic Bulletin issue 3/2024: Trust in the ECB – insights from the Consumer Expectations Survey, April 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/economic-bulletin/html/eb202403.en.html#toc24
European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu

Apr 11, 2024 • 13min
President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 11 April 2024
Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy, determining what’s needed to return inflation to our 2% goal in a timely manner.
Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers:
- how the economy is performing
- how we expect prices to develop
- the risks to the economic outlook
- the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions
Published and recorded during our press conference on 11 April 2024
Additional material
Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 11 April 2024 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2024/html/mopo_statement_explained_april.en.html
Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 11 April 2024 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2024/html/ecb.is240411~9974984b58.en.html
Monetary policy decisions, 11 April 2024 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2024/html/ecb.mp240411~1345644915.en.html
Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 11 April 2024 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/shared/pdf/ecb.ds240411~58dd9ec73d.en.pdf?566c397f0364d717913bf7770e67bf17
European Central Bank
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html
You can also listen to The ECB Podcast on SoundCloud, Spotify, Deezer, Stitcher, YouTube, Amazon Music and many more pod.link/ecbpodcast

Mar 25, 2024 • 21min
Quo vadis, inflation?
We have made good progress in our fight against inflation since we started to tighten our monetary policy in 2022. Where do we stand right now? And what are we keeping a close eye on in the economy?
Host Stefania Secola discusses these topics with our Chief Economist Philip R. Lane. They also talk about the ECB’s recent changes to its operational framework for implementing monetary policy.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
Published on 25 March 2024 and recorded on 21 March 2024.
In this episode:
01:23 – Inflation right now
How has inflation evolved since its peak in late 2022? What is the outlook for the year ahead and what will shape our future decisions?
03:30 – Wages and inflation
How are rising wages affecting inflation, and is the situation the same across all euro area countries?
09:54 – The state of the labour market
Unemployment is historically low, but economic growth is projected to be lower than in previous years. What might the coming months hold for the labour market?
13:54 – The ECB’s operational framework
Why have we reviewed our operational framework for implementing monetary policy? How does it help our work to keep prices stable?
19:02 – Our guest’s hot tip
Our guest, Philip R. Lane, encourages our listeners to read a paper that looks at the macroeconometric models used at the ECB for forecasting and policy analysis.
Further Reading:
The ECB Podcast: Are wages and greedflation really pushing up prices? June 2023
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/tvservices/podcast/html/ecb.pod230623_episode62.en.html
Occasional Paper 344: ECB macroeconometric models for forecasting and policy analysis
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpops/ecb.op344~53b9e2aa4d.en.pdf?14821c7f99280514dbdaa26114c4f565
Press release: ECB announces changes to the operational framework for implementing monetary policy
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2024/html/ecb.pr240313_1~a3a50a9add.en.html
Economic Bulletin Issue 2/2024, Article 1: The impact of recent shocks and ongoing structural changes on euro area productivity growth
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/economic-bulletin/articles/2024/html/ecb.ebart202402_01~d63ecff49c.en.html
Press release: Monetary policy decisions (7 March 2024)
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2024/html/ecb.mp240307~a5fa52b82b.en.html
European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu

Mar 7, 2024 • 13min
President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 7 March 2024
President Lagarde discusses the ECB's decision to maintain interest rates, aiming for future growth and 2% inflation. They cover economic performance, price expectations, risks, and financial conditions. Analysis includes economic activity, inflation, employment trends, risks, and interest rate decisions.

Feb 10, 2024 • 15min
Future euro banknotes, unpacked
Did you know that euro banknotes are getting a makeover? As the euro turns 25, let’s look at the road ahead for our banknotes. What will future euro banknotes look like, why do we need them, and when can we start using them?
Join our host Stefania Secola and Sarai Artiles, who works on banknote communications, to find out more.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
Published on 10 February 2024 and recorded on 1 February 2024.
In this episode:
00:05 – The euro is turning 25
The euro unites us – it is used by 350 million people in 20 countries! Euro banknotes are a physical reminder of our shared identity.
01:56 – Why are we redesigning euro banknotes?
Security, environmental aspects and relatability: these are just some of the reasons we are designing a new series of euro banknotes.
05:28 – Many cultures, one euro
Euro banknotes are used by people with different backgrounds, cultures, and languages. How can future banknotes represent them all?
08:50 – What will they look like?
“European culture” and “Rivers and birds” have been selected as the themes for future euro banknotes. Does this mean we already know what they’ll look like?
10:20 – When can we start using them?
We have the themes, but what’s next in the banknote redesign process? When can we expect to start using these new banknotes?
12:30 – Our guest’s hot tip
Additional material:
Press release: ECB selects “European culture” and “Rivers and birds” as possible themes for future euro banknotes
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2023/html/ecb.pr231130~cad7fa27ab.en.html
Press release: ECB surveys Europeans on new themes for euro banknotes
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2023/html/ecb.pr230710~77cf718c59.en.html
Podcast: All you need to know about euro banknotes
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/tvservices/podcast/html/ecb.pod220205_episode27.en.html
Webpage: FAQ on the redesign of euro banknotes
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/future_banknotes/html/ecb.faq_banknotes_redesign.en.html
Webpage: The redesign process
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/banknotes/future_banknotes/redesign/html/index.en.html
European Central Bank
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/

Jan 31, 2024 • 21min
The ECB’s climate and nature plan: our path to a greener future
What lies ahead on our path to a greener future? How can we assess the impact of extreme weather on the economy? And how can we tackle financial risks from nature loss and degradation? With its new climate and nature plan, the ECB is stepping up its work in these areas over the next two years.
Our host Stefania Secola discusses this and more with the head of the ECB’s climate change centre, Irene Heemskerk.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.
Published on 31 January 2024 and recorded on 23 January 2024.
In this episode:
01:00 – The ECB’s work on climate
What has the ECB done so far to help tackle climate change, what does it plan to focus on going forward and why is this work important?
04:35 – The intensifying climate crisis
As global temperatures rise and extreme climate events become more frequent and more devastating, what is the impact on the economy and the financial system? What can the ECB do about it?
07:40– Keeping the green transition on course
Time is running out to contain global warming and meet the Paris Agreement targets. Governments are in the driving seat but we’re all heading in the same direction. How can economic analysis contribute to these efforts, and how can we unlock the funds needed to keep the green transition moving forward?
13:15 – Defining a role for monetary policy
The ECB has already tilted its corporate bond holdings towards issuers with better climate performance. What else can it do, within its mandate, to support the green transition? What role can interest rates play?
15:00 – From climate change to environmental crises: nature and biodiversity loss
Euro area firms and banks are highly dependent on nature, but nature is being rapidly devastated by human activity. What are the economic and financial risks stemming from nature degradation?
17:22 - Our guest’s hot tip
ECB climate change centre head Irene Heemskerk shares her hot tip with our listeners.
Additional material:
Press release: ECB steps up climate work with focus on green transition, climate and nature-related risks, 30 January 2024
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2024/html/ecb.pr240130~afa3d90e07.en.html
The ECB’s climate and nature plan 2024-25
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/climate/our-climate-and-nature-plan/html/index.en.html
Climate change and the ECB https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/climate/html/index.en.html
The ECB’s publications on climate change https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/search/html/climate_change.en.html
The ECB Podcast: What biodiversity and nature loss mean for our economy, 25 November 2023
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP3tRzELPLY
European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu
www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu


