The OMFIF Podcast

Transitioning global public funds – strategies, barriers and opportunities

Anne Simpson, global head of sustainability at Franklin Templeton, joins Emma McGarthy, head of OMFIF’s Sustainable Policy Institute, to assess the role of public pension and sovereign funds in transition finance. They also discuss the work of the Transition Finance Working Group, which has spoken with 12 of the biggest funds on their transition strategies and challenges. The working group conversations have been distilled into a research report by OMFIF, which will be launched at a seminar during COP29.

 

To join OMFIF, Franklin Templeton and global public funds at COP29, register here.

 

To read more about OMFIF's Transition Finance insight, click here.

Breaking down wholesale CBDC developments with G+D

2024 has seen exciting developments in the wholesale central bank digital currency space. Abbas Albasha, senior strategy consultant for CBDC at Giesecke+Devrient, joins Lewis McLellan, OMFIF's Digital Monetary Institute editor, to discuss the value that wholesale CBDC can offer economies, how they can integrate with other forms of money including retail CBDC and some of the challenges those looking to implement them are facing.

Examining the changing landscape of digital assets with R3

Many in capital markets have long been expecting an overhaul in how their business functions from the disruptive effects of digital assets technology. So far, these effects have not been substantial outside isolated pockets where implementation has leaped ahead. But many believe we are approaching an inflection point and that dramatic changes are about to arrive for financial market infrastructure. Kate Karimson, R3's chief commercial officer, joins Lewis McLellan, OMFIF's Digital Monetary Institute editor, to discuss what these changes will look like.

The Draghi report: key messages for Europe’s economy

In early September 2024, the European Commission published the long-awaited ‘The future of European competitiveness: Report by Mario Draghi', which examines in detail the challenges faced by European industry and companies in the single market. OMFIF lead economist Taylor Pearce hosts Bill Papadakis, macro strategist at Lombard Odier, to discuss the structural and macro trends the EU economy is contending with and how these are impacting key areas of the economy and financial system.

Evolution of sustainable government debt issuance

One of the major structural factors impacting government financing is the massive scale of public money needed to ensure the transition to a carbon neutral economy. How are trends in government debt issuance evolving as they relate to sustainability? Alex Caridia, head of public sector markets at RBC and Heather Taylor, partner, climate change and sustainability at EY, join OMFIF lead economist Taylor Pearce to discuss. The conversation is a part of OMFIF’s workstream on the Future of public money project. 

The status of stablecoins

At present, in most jurisdictions, only commercial banks are able to provide final settlement of payments as the only institutions with access to central bank reserves. However, new business models have emerged that unbundle the business of creating money and payment services from the provision of credit. Should payments be unbundled from banking? Circle's chief economist Gordon Liao and OMFIF's Digital Monetary Institute editor Lewis McLellan discuss the regulatory treatment of stablecoins and consider which institutions can access central bank payment systems and under what conditions.

Meeting the need for offline digital payments

Around a third of the world lack reliable internet access and among the two thirds that have access, disruptions and restrictions are far from unknown. Ensuring that digital payments solutions are reliable and have the broadest reach possible requires that they can function offline. Though the need is well understood, the challenges of meeting it remain. Lars Hupel, G+D's chief evangelist, joins OMFIF's Digital Monetary Institute editor Lewis McLellan to discuss how offline capabilities enhance the effectiveness and convenience of online payment methods and share G+D's experience in this field.

Trump and Harris' 'meaningfully different' economic positions

Christopher Smart, former senior US Treasury and National Security Council official and managing partner of Arbroath Group, joins OMFIF's US chair Mark Sobel, to discuss the economic plans of presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. They compare the candidates' differences on fiscal, monetary, exchange rate, trade and immigration policies. 

Advancing financial inclusion in the Middle East and Africa

Omar Massarweh, vice president of public policy for the Middle East and North Africa at Mastercard, joins Arunima Sharan, senior economist at OMFIF to discuss key findings from the ‘Path to Morocco’ project completed by OMFIF in partnership with Mastercard, aimed at fostering public-private dialogue and ensuring that financial inclusion remains at the core of future economies.

Their conversation touches on the alignment of current financial systems with the World Economic Forum's shared principles for an inclusive financial system and the areas with the greatest potential for improvement. They also explore how emerging technologies can enhance financial inclusion, the role of financial institutions in catalysing innovation and successful examples of public-private collaborations in the region.

Emerging markets debt: trends opportunities and risks

Jeremy Cunningham, investment director at Capital Group, speaks with Arunima Sharan, senior economist at OMFIF to discuss the latest trends in emerging markets debt. They explore the re-emergence of these markets in investors' minds and how perceptions of EM debt have shifted in recent years. The conversation covers current and future opportunities in this local and hard currency EM bonds, factors contributing to higher return potential, and associated risks.

OMFIF’s Q3 Bulletin on emerging markets can be found here