The change in the global world order and economic system isn’t a temporary phenomenon. Globalisation and digitalisation mean this change will be a perpetual process, First Deputy Governor Sabine Mauderer announced at a symposium organised by the Institute for Banking and Financial History (IBF) and the Center for Financial Studies (CFS). Hosted by the Bundesbank’s Regional Office in Hesse, this event saw participants discuss how trade conflicts can impact on the global economic system. Bundesbank Executive Board member Fritzi Köhler-Geib spoke on a panel about the outlook for the German and European economy.

The global economy is under pressure: the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the conflicts in the Middle East have heightened geopolitical tensions. Germany, a large open economy with a gross international investment position of over €14 trillion, is particularly affected by this. In the current edition of the Monthly Report, our experts analyse changes in Germany’s external assets against the backdrop of the current geopolitical situation.

“World events are keeping us on tenterhooks,” said Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel at a joint press conference with Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, speaking about challenges facing the German economy and monetary policy. Nagel noted that the situation in the Middle East was, in many respects, a new test of hardship. 

Sustainability risks are a growing area of interest for banking supervisors. More and more banks are integrating these ESG risks into their risk processes and lending practices, the Bundesbank writes in its current Monthly Report. Implementation remains a challenge, however, especially in terms of data availability and setting concrete target values for sustainable strategies. Supervisors are calling for further progress to be made in terms of management and preparation of ESG risk plans.