Speaker Class A2
Making Sense of New Economies: Workers’ adaptability and its repercussions under the Spotlight
In an era marked by the digital revolution, the pressing realities of climate change, and profound societal transformations, our economies have undergone seismic shifts that necessitate fresh analytical perspectives and innovative policy responses. It is increasingly clear that prioritizing resilience, cohesiveness, and adaptability takes precedence over simply pursuing average performance metrics.
At the heart of this discourse are the workers, whose pivotal role prompts us to delve into the evolving nature of work in the digital age. This landscape is characterized by automation, the rise of gig economies, and the prevalence of remote work arrangements. Our exploration extends to the far-reaching implications of these changes, touching upon concerns related to job security, the distribution of income, and the preservation of worker rights. In this context, the indispensable role of reskilling and upskilling emerges as a critical mechanism for individuals to navigate the swiftly evolving labor market.
Moreover, labor mobility and international migration also feature prominently as vital components of adaptation in this ever-shifting economic landscape. Recognizing migration as an essential means of adjustment highlights how policy choices in different domains are interconnected and influence the effectiveness of this adaptation mechanism.
In sum, our discussion underscores the imperative of embracing interdisciplinary and holistic approaches to comprehensively address these multifaceted challenges. It is incumbent upon us to reimagine our economic systems with a renewed focus on inclusivity, social cohesion, and sustainable development. This imperative provides a clear roadmap for policymakers, scholars, and practitioners alike, guiding them in navigating the intricate terrain of labor, migration, and inequality – crucial dimensions of economic study in our evolving world.
Biography
Professor at the Department of Public Policy at the Central European University (CEU) in Vienna. Martin Kahanec acted as the Dean of CEU's School of Public Policy in 2017-19 and 2020-21; he was elected to continue as the Head of the unit when it was renamed to Department (2021-2023).
Founder and Scientific Director of CELSI, Bratislava (2008-). Affiliated Scholar and member of the Advisory Board at the Global Labor Organization. Affiliated Researcher at Centre for Population, Development and Labour Economics (POP), MERIT, United Nations University, Maastricht; and the University of Economics in Bratislava. Research Fellow (2005-2015), Deputy Program Director "Migration" (2007-2016), and Deputy Director of Research (2009) at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) in Bonn, Germany. Visiting Research Fellow at Harvard University's Labor and Worklife Program 2014/15. Mercator Senior Visiting Fellow (2019-20) at Bruegel, Brussels.
Member of the Council of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Science, Technology and Innovation as well as the Scientific Board of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic; former member of the national COVID-19 Economic Crisis Management Council at the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic and member of Minister's advisory council (2020-2021).
Elected member of Academia Europaea, the European Academy of Humanities, Letters and Sciences, and Chairperson of its Section Committee "Economics, Business and Management Sciences". Former president of the Slovak Economic Association (2016-2018).
His main research interests are economic policy, labor and population economics, migration, EU mobility, ethnicity, and reforms in European labor markets. Martin Kahanec has published in peer-reviewed academic journals and has edited and contributed to several scientific book volumes and journal special issues. He has served as editor or editorial board member for several leading academic journals.
Martin Kahanec has held several advisory positions and leading roles in a number of scientific and policy projects with the World Bank, the European Commission, European Parliament, European Court of Auditors, OECD, and other international and national institutions.
Martin Kahanec earned his Ph.D. in Economics in 2006 from the Center for Economic Research (CentER), Tilburg University, the Netherlands.