Dear members of the CATÓLICA-LISBON community,
As the pandemic started in mid-March, it was clear that it would lead to a severe economic crisis. Being the leading school of business and economics in Portugal, we knew we had a responsibility to act, bringing knowledge, learning and impact. So we mobilized our professors to develop rigorous research initiatives related to the economic effects of the pandemic. These included our award winning NECEP GDP Forecasts, the widely cited CESOP surveys of the population, the well attended Knowledge Conferences, new Policy proposals, and innovative economic analyses using micro-data. I am pleased to announce that to contribute to the economic revival of Portugal, we launched this week a web-page that shares our results and analyses – Economic Analysis in times of COVID-19. We will communicate this web-page publicly later in the week but wanted to give you a first preview. Hope you find it valuable and we will keep updating it with new insights and analysis.
Our Knowledge conferences will continue this Tuesday, May 26th at 17.00h, featuring Manuel Rodrigues, Finance Professor in King’s College London, and former Secretary of State for Finance of Portugal, speaking on “Economic Recovery for Portugal and Europe”. Professor Rodrigues oversaw the Portuguese finances during the last crisis so he has a unique perspective on the possibilities and strategies available to the Portugal to re-ignite the economy.
On Thursday, May 28th at 17.00h, our knowledge conference (in Portuguese) will feature our Professor of Strategy, Ilídio Barreto. He will share insights on what is managers’ biggest challenge when facing external shocks like the one that we are experiencing, why inertia to change may set in, and how managers can mitigate that challenge and innovate.
Next week, on Tuesday June 2nd at 17.00h, we will discuss how consumer brands are adapting their value proposition to the confinement situation and the new consumption trends. This knowledge conference (in Portuguese) will feature senior managers of major brands sharing their experience and innovations, moderated by our Program Diretor Rosário Pinto Correia with comments from Professor Rita Coelho do Vale.
We have much to share at CATÓLICA-LISBON and #WeStandUNITED. United as a community and united in support of a healthy economy capable of fulfilling the needs and aspirations of all citizens.
Filipe Santos, Dean of CATÓLICA-LISBON
