Exclusive interview with Jean Lemierre, Group Chairman

Jean Lemierre, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Nicolas Otton, Head of BNP Paribas Banque Privée France and Chairman of Portzamparc, discuss on the macroeconomic and geopolitical outlook for 2024.

1. 2023 was marred by the persistence of conflicts in Eastern Europe, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict flaring up again. In the light of these two events, what is your opinion of the current international situation? What could be the repercussions of these crises on the global and European economy?

2. This year, some important elections will be taking place in the US, in Europe and in several large emerging countries. Do you see any risks to confidence and growth?

3. The solutions implemented by central banks have been effective in curbing inflation but have been costly for growth in Europe and the US. Do you think that the economic shock caused by these stabilisation measures is now behind us, or should we fear a more marked slowdown?

4. On the topic of artificial intelligence, 2023 saw the launch of ChatGPT, with several newcomers emerging. What should we think about ChatGPT? And what short- and medium-term impacts do you see on productivity and the labour market?

5. In your opinion, what is the role of the private sector, especially banks, in the energy transition? How can we better engage individual investors in this area?