The Russian School of Economics is holding a winter series of “Enlightenment Days” in memory of NES co-founder Gur Ofer

From December 5 to 18, the Russian Economic School (NES) is holding series of discussions within the framework of “Educational Days”. Like summer seriesthe event is dedicated memory co-founder of the school Gur Ofer, who was engaged in research on the Soviet and transition periods. Economists, financiers and business representatives will discuss growth factors, myths about exchange rates and gender inequality, the new structure of financial markets and productivity in an AI-powered world. Among the participants: scientific director of NES Ruben Enikolopov, dean of the Faculty of Economics of Moscow State University Alexander Auzan, adviser to the head of the Central Bank Ksenia Yudaeva and CEO of HeadHunter Dmitry Sergienkov.

All discussions will be available to watch live and recorded, as well as in text format on the Kommersant website. To participate in any of the sessions, send your questions on the topics via feedback form or leave comments under the publication below and on Kommersant’s social media accounts.

• How to Capitalize on the Economic Value of Artificial Intelligence

December 5 (Tuesday), 19:00–20:30

Speakers: Strategy Manager at Canadian DataGPT Daria Levina, Head of AI Research Group in the field of protein engineering from Masaryk University Stanislav Mazurenko and NES professor Ivan Stelmakh

2023 passed under the sign of ChatGPT: since the release of the first version of the chatbot, the regulatory disputes breakthrough technology. How do scientists study the impact of algorithms on social interactions and productivity? Is it possible to consider the impact of machine learning when building a career in different industries? Which AI intermediaries will continue to be in demand?

• What have we learned about the economy since Covid?

December 6 (Wednesday), 19:00–20:30

Speakers: Advisor to the Chairman of the Bank of Russia Ksenia Yudaeva, NES professors Maxim Buev and Natalya Volchkova

In recent years, the world economy has been either waiting for or overcoming various shocks. How successfully does the system cope with the polycrisis? What surprises have changes in global trade and financial markets given economists? And what exactly have we learned about the economy in conditions of constant uncertainty?

• Labor market – evolution or revolution

December 11 (Monday), 19:00–20:30

Speakers: CEO of HeadHunter Group Dmitry Sergienkov, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Vladimir Gimpelson and NES professor Irina Denisova

Pandemic-era forecasts about employment seem to remain fantasy for now, but expectations of serious transformations remain. But do expectations for change exaggerate the scope of its possibilities? What awaits remote work and why do employers want to see employees in offices? Why are different countries, including Russia, facing a labor shortage?

• Economic losses due to gender inequality

December 12 (Tuesday), 19:00–20:30

Speakers: First Vice President of Gazprombank Natalya Volchkova and NES professor Natalia Puzyrnikova

Nobel Prize 2023 Award for studying the role of women in the economic life of Claudia Goldin highlighted the relevance of the problem of inequality. What price do we pay for it and why is it so resilient? What can the state do, and where are market processes more effective? Where do the roots of gender inequality in Russia come from and how do society’s demands change with the change of generations?

• The roads that the economy chooses

December 13 (Wednesday), 19:00–20:00

Speakers: Dean of the Faculty of Economics of Moscow State University Alexander Auzan, Scientific Director of NES Ruben Enikolopov and Rector of NES Anton Suvorov

Culture and religion, history and institutions, resources and geography, chance and predestination – which of these most noticeably paves the way along which the economy develops? How to overcome hereditary problems? What hinders the implementation of reforms and what unlearned lessons does history punish?

• Myths about exchange rates

December 18 (Monday), 19:00–20:30

Speakers: Deputy Chairman of the Bank of Russiaand Alexey Zabotkin, Chief Economist of Renaissance Capital for Russia and the CIS Sofia Donets and NES professor Oleg Shibanov

There are many myths surrounding the formation of the ruble exchange rate. To what extent are changes in exchange rates similar to free roaming prices? How are exchange rates and inflation related? Are there any chances for a relatively stable exchange rate in the commodity economy and what to do if personal expenses are highly dependent on its fluctuations?