Francesc's Blog

CREI (a research institute sponsored by UPF) publishes the ‘Opuscles‘, which are usually written by a professor from UPF or UAB and describe the research interests of the author. The last number (35), published on December 2013, was written by my supervisor, and it talks about credit cycles and systemic risk. In a nutshell, it explains why banks may start lending ‘too much’, in particular because of problems inside the banking sector; it also talks about a very costly situation called a credit crunch, and it finishes discussing some conclusions on the role of macroprudential policy to help alleviate these problems. It is supposed to be for the general public, not only economists, so it is relatively easy to read. There is even a version in Catalan, translated by myself. So take a look at it in here if you are a little bit interested in the topic!

Right after starting this blog, I had a crazy week of teaching. I actually enjoy teaching. It is one of these things that you never consider but, when you are somehow forced to do it, you change your opinion. I was teaching Banking. With slightly different names, but the two courses were about banking. Now, if you have known me for a long period, you may realise the ‘accident’ that this implies. My father has worked in banking his whole life, and my mother has been a teacher, surprise, her whole life. And I ended up teaching banking. It is amazing how the past can influence you. How, what you saw at home, the conversations you had with your parents, with other relatives, or even close friends, can shape your tastes and future decisions. The best thing is that you do not even realise it. You just, as Steve Jobs said once, connect the dots.

But right now I am in Frankfurt, working in a project at the Bundesbank. Have you ever been to Frankfurt? It is a weird city, it is like it has no soul, or at least I cannot see it. That is not a bad thing, I just mean that I am not used to it. Yet. On the other hand, I am enjoying the stay at the Bundesbank. Lots of work, but that is a good thing. I must admit a felt a bit overwhelmed at the beginning, having to work a lot and with almost no time to find a shared flat. But my wife has helped me with it, as always. And if I think about it, I have many friends around the world, that are not afraid of starting new adventures in different countries. Frankfurt is so close compared to Canada, US, or Venezuela. What do my friends have to do with this? Let me put it like this: I cannot lose to them.

First day to work (I was sick last week) of a year that promises to be extremely interesting and exciting. In order to make it even better, I start this blog. I don’t know exactly what I am going to write about, but it will be a good way to keep track of the things I do, read, think about, etc. Nothing more, but nothing less. I must admit that blogging sounds very 2000s -and not 2010s-, but it’s always been kind of a hobby for me. And I feel particularly now that I am doing a lot of stuff at the same time and have very few chances to talk to friends about what I am doing. This is a good way to keep track, for me and for others.

I know I’ll talk at some point about research, about developments in the banking industry, about new regulation, about politics, about Catalonia, about movies, … But this first one is just to say hi. And I didn’t say it yet, so… HI!