The Chinese have a saying, 'A peaceful life has nothing to do with the passage of time'. This sound reminder points to the importance of enjoying life regardless of age. After all, age is just a number, right? Ageing has become a topical issue in the mainstream recently as experts warn of the incoming 'Silver Avalanche', which has already swept Europe and is making its way to Asia.

Global life expectancy has risen from 51 to 72 since 1960 and is expected to reach 77 by 2050. It is projected that there will be around 2.4 billion elderly (aged 65 or over) or 24% of the world's population by the end of the century.

Now, it is more important than ever to prepare for this demographic shift and ensure that older adults have access to the resources they need to live fulfilling lives. This, however, presents a dilemma, as while life expectancy is rising, families are shrinking as people have fewer children. The far-reaching effects are already being felt in many countries, including China.

In this episode of 2050 Investors, Kokou reflects on the ageing crisis and its impact on the world's population, its economy, and the planet. The conversation then shifts to an analysis of the silver economy: With the assistance of Yoda from Star Wars, who was once Siri but aged due to planned obsolescence, Kokou explores the impact of a shrinking workforce, pension fund deficits, and escalating healthcare costs on fiscal and monetary policy.

Later in the episode, Kokou talks with Wei Yao, Chief Economist for APAC at Societe Generale. With China's robust economic growth lifting millions out of poverty over the past decades, how does the country now address the imminent reality of an ageing population? There are solutions on the horizon, such as learning from countries like Japan and focusing on healthy ageing. However, striking a balance between economic growth and social welfare whilst creating a sustainable future is a complex challenge.

About this show

Welcome to 2050 Investors your monthly guide to understanding the intricate connections between finance, globalisation, and ESG.

Join host Kokou Agbo-Bloua, Head of Economics, Cross-Asset & Quant Research at Societe Generale, for an exploration of the economic and market megatrends shaping the present and future, and how these trends might influence our progress to meeting 2050’s challenging global sustainability targets.

In each episode, Kokou deep-dives into the events impacting the economy, financial markets, the planet, and society. Through a magical blend of personal anecdotes, in-depth research and narratives overlaid with music, sound effects, and pop culture references, there’s certainly something for everyone.

Kokou also interviews industry-leading experts, personalities, entrepreneurs and even Nobel prize winners! You will learn from the best on a wide range of subjects on current affairs, market shifts, and economic developments.

If you like 2050 Investors, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support will help us spread the word and reach new audiences. If you’re seeking a brief and entertaining overview of market-related topics and their business and societal implications, subscribe now to stay informed!

Previous episodes of 2050 Investors have explored ESG, climate change, AI, greenflation, globalization, plastic pollution, food, healthcare, biodiversity and more.

Credits

Presenter & Writer: Kokou Agbo-Bloua. Editors: Vincent Nickelsen, Jovaney Ashman, Linda Isker and Théodora David. Production Designer: Emmanuel Minelle, Radio K7 Creative. Executive Producer : Fanny Giniès. Sound Director: Marc Valenduc. Music: Rone. Graphic Design: Cédric Cazaly.

Whilst the following podcast discusses the financial markets, it does not recommend any particular investment decision. If you are unsure of the merits of any investment decision, please seek professional advice.

Strap on your boots, don your hats, grab your pitchforks and mangroves, because we are going carbon hunting!

Although carbon dioxide makes up a measly 0.04% of our atmosphere or 421 parts per million (ppm), it is about double the average concentration seen over the past 3 million years. All of this extra carbon dioxide accumulated since the pre-industrial era has already caused global warming of 1.1 degrees Celsius, destabilized Earth's climate and started the 6th mass extinction of biodiversity in our planet's history.

One solution: put a bounty on carbon's head and bring it to justice, aka carbon pricing. Since its introduction by the European Union in 2005, the idea of carbon pricing has long been touted by economists as one of the best ways to tackle climate change: making polluters pay for the environmental damage their emissions cause.

Join Kokou Agbo-Bloua as he travels back in time to the beginning of time itself, the Big Bang, to trace the history of carbon from its cosmic origins to its role in climate change. He also explores the science behind the formation of carbon, its role in the carbon cycle and its impact on the Earth's atmosphere.

But the hunt doesn't stop there. We'll also dive into the world of carbon markets and natural capital solutions. Kokou talks to Eric Schoumsky, Head of Natural Capital Solutions at Societe Generale, about the role of carbon markets in financing nature-based solutions and how the market could evolve by 2050. Kokou presses Eric on the potential risks of manipulation and the potential impact on low-income households in a context of high inflation and shifting geopolitics.

So join us on this high-stakes chase through the periodic table as we uncover the complex and fascinating world of carbon and its impact on our planet. "Carbon Bounty Hunting is a must-listen for anyone interested in science, the environment and the future of our planet.

About this show

Welcome to 2050 Investors your monthly guide to understanding the intricate connections between finance, globalisation, and ESG.

Join host Kokou Agbo-Bloua, Head of Economics, Cross-Asset & Quant Research at Societe Generale, for an exploration of the economic and market megatrends shaping the present and future, and how these trends might influence our progress to meeting 2050’s challenging global sustainability targets.

In each episode, Kokou deep-dives into the events impacting the economy, financial markets, the planet, and society. Through a magical blend of personal anecdotes, in-depth research and narratives overlaid with music, sound effects, and pop culture references, there’s certainly something for everyone.

Kokou also interviews industry-leading experts, personalities, entrepreneurs and even Nobel prize winners! You will learn from the best on a wide range of subjects on current affairs, market shifts, and economic developments.

If you like 2050 Investors, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support will help us spread the word and reach new audiences. If you’re seeking a brief and entertaining overview of market-related topics and their business and societal implications, subscribe now to stay informed!

Previous episodes of 2050 Investors have explored ESG-influenced financial assets, climate change, AI, greenflation, smart cities, globalization, plastic pollution, food, health care, biodiversity, the energy transition, and more.

Credits

Presenter & Writer: Kokou Agbo-Bloua. Editors: Vincent Nickelsen, Jovaney Ashman, Linda Isker and Théodora David. Production Designer: Emmanuel Minelle, Radio K7 Creative. Executive Producer : Fanny Giniès. Sound Director: Marc Valenduc. Interview Voice-over : Richard Doust, supervised by Romain Lefebvre. Music: Rone. Graphic Design: Cédric Cazaly.

Whilst the following podcast discusses the financial markets, it does not recommend any particular investment decision. If you are unsure of the merits of any investment decision, please seek professional advice.

Should the world's central banks (Fed, ECB, BoE...) launch a coordinated "green quantitative easing" programme to simply print the $3.5 trillion a year needed to finance the energy transition? Is this a realistic solution or too green to be true?

This episode of the 2050 investors podcast puts the 'central' back in central banks. Since their creation in the 17th century, central banks have been tasked with managing monetary policy, overseeing the banking system and the core mandate of maintaining 'price stability'. But climate change is becoming a major threat to their mandate, posing a real risk to economic and financial stability in the medium to long term.

In this latest episode, Kokou explores the delicate balancing act that central banks must perform as they seek to be independent in ensuring that inflation remains under control, while at the same time contributing to economic and financial stability and playing a central role in the fight against climate change. There is more to central banking than meets the eye.

Don't worry if you've forgotten your Economics 101 course, or if you've never taken one, because we're going to give you a quick crash course in the complicated role of the central bank, using references from the series Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) and the wonderful and magical world of Lord of the Rings.

And, of course, we take you down memory lane with a brief history of central banks and their evolution from

World War I through 20th century Japan to the recent 'inflation outbreak' following the Covid19 pandemic.

Later in the episode you will hear extracts from an episode of "The ECB Podcast" entitled "Tackling climate change as a central bank, between motivation, obligation and limitation". Isabel Schnabel and Frank Elderson, Executive Board members of the European Central Bank, explain the role of the ECB's Corporate Sector Purchase Programme (CSPP), which buys green bonds issued by companies in order to reduce their carbon footprint.

About this show

Welcome to 2050 Investors your monthly guide to understanding the intricate connections between finance, globalisation, and ESG.

Join host Kokou Agbo-Bloua, Head of Economics, Cross-Asset & Quant Research at Societe Generale, for an exploration of the economic and market megatrends shaping the present and future, and how these trends might influence our progress to meeting 2050’s challenging global sustainability targets.

In each episode, Kokou deep-dives into the events impacting the economy, financial markets, the planet, and society. Through a magical blend of personal anecdotes, in-depth research and narratives overlaid with music, sound effects, and pop culture references, there’s certainly something for everyone.

Kokou also interviews industry-leading experts, personalities, entrepreneurs and even Nobel prize winners! You will learn from the best on a wide range of subjects on current affairs, market shifts, and economic developments.

If you like 2050 Investors, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support will help us spread the word and reach new audiences. If you’re seeking a brief and entertaining overview of market-related topics and their business and societal implications, subscribe now to stay informed!

Previous episodes of 2050 Investors have explored ESG-influenced financial assets, climate change, AI, greenflation, smart cities, globalization, plastic pollution, food, health care, biodiversity, the energy transition, and more.

Credits

Presenter & Writer: Kokou Agbo-Bloua. Editors: Vincent Nickelsen, Jovaney Ashman, Linda Isker and Théodora David. Production Designer: Emmanuel Minelle, Radio K7 Creative. Executive Producer : Fanny Giniès. Sound Director: Marc Valenduc. Music: Rone. Graphic Design: Cédric Cazaly.

Whilst the following podcast discusses the financial markets, it does not recommend any particular investment decision. If you are unsure of the merits of any investment decision, please seek professional advice.