The future of work
Nov
27
05:45 PM - 09:30 PM
The work of the future
Press
Intro
- Twitter thread Keynote lecture with David Autor read
- Twitter thread Panel discussion with Sergio Ermotti, Mauro Dell'Ambrogio, and Ferdinando Giugliano read
We where delighted to present you the UBS Center’s joint event with the Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano. What better place to have talked about the future of work than this aspiring region? And who could have been better to talk about the future of work than one of the leading labor economists of the world, David Autor? In his keynote, Prof. Autor talked about the effects of automation, digitalization, and international trade on the labor market and outlined the future of work. These research findings where deliberated in a panel discussion with former State Secretary Mauro Dell’Ambrogio, UBS Group CEO Sergio Ermotti, and writer and columnist Ferdinando Giugliano.
We look forward to continuing the dialogue between academia, politics, and business on the south side of the Alps, to reach out to new minds, and grasp the potential of new ideas.
This was a public event. Entrance was free, but registration was required. The keynote and panel discussion where held in English, with simultaneous translation in Italian.
David Autor is Ford Professor at the MIT Department of Economics. He explores the labor market impacts of technological change and globalization on job polarization, earning levels and inequality, and electoral outcomes.
Autor has received numerous awards for his research, such as the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship, the Sherwin Rosen Prize for outstanding contributions in the field of labor economics, and the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship.
Before taking his first economics course at the relatively ripe age of 28, David Autor spent several years in the tech industry, working as a programmer and teaching computer skills to disadvantaged children. For a fascinating paper published in 2002, Autor and his co-authors spent two years exploring every aspect of the operation of a large bank. Both this research and his experience as a programmer showed him that the reasoning of many economists with respect to automation was flawed. This laid the foundation for his ground-breaking research in labor economics.
Bloomberg recognized David Autor as one of the 50 people who define global business in 2017. The Economist calls David Autor “the academic voice of the American worker”.
- Twitter thread Keynote lecture with David Autor read
- Twitter thread Panel discussion with Sergio Ermotti, Mauro Dell'Ambrogio, and Ferdinando Giugliano read
We where delighted to present you the UBS Center’s joint event with the Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano. What better place to have talked about the future of work than this aspiring region? And who could have been better to talk about the future of work than one of the leading labor economists of the world, David Autor? In his keynote, Prof. Autor talked about the effects of automation, digitalization, and international trade on the labor market and outlined the future of work. These research findings where deliberated in a panel discussion with former State Secretary Mauro Dell’Ambrogio, UBS Group CEO Sergio Ermotti, and writer and columnist Ferdinando Giugliano.
We look forward to continuing the dialogue between academia, politics, and business on the south side of the Alps, to reach out to new minds, and grasp the potential of new ideas.
David Autor, Ford Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mauro Dell’Ambrogio, former State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation
Sergio P. Ermotti, Group Chief Executive Officer of UBS Group AG
Ferdinando Giugliano, economist commentator at La Repubblica and Bloomberg
Quote
We don't have the technological wind anymore to shape the middle class. Now institutions have to work harder.
David Autor
It's all going to be about agility. If you don't sit down and learn you are unlikely to succeed.
Sergio Ermotti
It's a very complex linking. What I learnt is that you cannot imitate a system. It has to do with culture.
Mauro Dell'Ambrogio
If you are a government and care about equality, you have to look at unwanted effects and who are the losers.
Ferdinando Giugliano
Photo gallery
Program
The past and future of workplace automation
Speakers
David Autor is Ford Professor at the MIT Department of Economics. He explores the labor market impacts of technological change and globalization on job polarization, earning levels and inequality, and electoral outcomes. Autor has received numerous awards for his research, such as the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship, the Sherwin Rosen Prize for outstanding contributions in the field of labor economics, and the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. Bloomberg recognized David Autor as one of the 50 people who define global business in 2017. The Economist calls David Autor “the academic voice of the American worker”.
former State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation
Dr. Mauro Dell'Ambrogio
Mauro Dell'Ambrogio was from 2013 to 2018 State Secretary for Education Research and Innovation in the new Department of Economics, Education and Research WBF (formerly EVD). Prior to that, he took service in public functions in the canton of Ticino, such as Project Manager for the establishment of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and General Secretary of the USI.
Sergio P. Ermotti has been Group CEO of UBS Group AG and President of the Executive Board of UBS AG since April 2023. He was also the Group CEO from 2011 to 2020. He re-joined UBS from Swiss Re, where he was Chairman of the Board of Directors until April 2023. Prior to joining UBS in 2011, he was at UniCredit Group where from 2007 to 2010 he served as Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Corporate & Investment Banking and Private Banking, prior to that he served as Head of the Markets & Investment Banking Division. Between 1987 and 2004, he held various positions at Merrill Lynch & Co. in the areas of equity derivatives and capital markets. He became Co-Head of Global Equity Markets and a member of the Executive Management Committee for Global Markets & Investment Banking in 2001.
Ferdinando Giugliano is a member of the editorial board of Bloomberg View, writing columns and editorials on European economics. He is also a columnist for La Repubblica, one of Italy’s leading dailies. Between 2011 and 2015, Giugliano worked for the Financial Times in London writing leaders and analyses about the global economy. Ferdinando holds a D.Phil. in Economics from the University of Oxford and has worked as a consultant for the CEPR, the Bank of Italy, and the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Rico Maggi is full professor at Università della Svizzera italiana and was Dean of the Faculty of Economics from 2009 until 2013. He teaches microeconomics and the economics of tourism at the University of Lugano. Prof. Maggi is Director of the Istituto di Ricerche Economiche (IRE), where his research interests focuses on transport, tourism, and urban and regional development. He is president of the Swiss Association for Transport Research and was member of the board of the Swiss National Science Foundation and of the Marcel Benoist Foundation. Prof. Rico Maggi is author of many articles published in international academic journals. He serves regularly as referee for international academic journals. His last books are “Verkehrt – Plädoyer für eine nachhaltige Verkehrspolitik“ (2010), “Zurigo Lugano Milano“ (2016) and „Il Ticino: un’economia locale e globale“ (2018).
David Autor is Ford Professor at the MIT Department of Economics. He explores the labor market impacts of technological change and globalization on job polarization, earning levels and inequality, and electoral outcomes. Autor has received numerous awards for his research, such as the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship, the Sherwin Rosen Prize for outstanding contributions in the field of labor economics, and the Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. Bloomberg recognized David Autor as one of the 50 people who define global business in 2017. The Economist calls David Autor “the academic voice of the American worker”.
former State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation
Dr. Mauro Dell'Ambrogio
Mauro Dell'Ambrogio was from 2013 to 2018 State Secretary for Education Research and Innovation in the new Department of Economics, Education and Research WBF (formerly EVD). Prior to that, he took service in public functions in the canton of Ticino, such as Project Manager for the establishment of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and General Secretary of the USI.
Sergio P. Ermotti has been Group CEO of UBS Group AG and President of the Executive Board of UBS AG since April 2023. He was also the Group CEO from 2011 to 2020. He re-joined UBS from Swiss Re, where he was Chairman of the Board of Directors until April 2023. Prior to joining UBS in 2011, he was at UniCredit Group where from 2007 to 2010 he served as Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Corporate & Investment Banking and Private Banking, prior to that he served as Head of the Markets & Investment Banking Division. Between 1987 and 2004, he held various positions at Merrill Lynch & Co. in the areas of equity derivatives and capital markets. He became Co-Head of Global Equity Markets and a member of the Executive Management Committee for Global Markets & Investment Banking in 2001.
Ferdinando Giugliano is a member of the editorial board of Bloomberg View, writing columns and editorials on European economics. He is also a columnist for La Repubblica, one of Italy’s leading dailies. Between 2011 and 2015, Giugliano worked for the Financial Times in London writing leaders and analyses about the global economy. Ferdinando holds a D.Phil. in Economics from the University of Oxford and has worked as a consultant for the CEPR, the Bank of Italy, and the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Venue
Università della Svizzera italiana
Aula magna, Via Giuseppe Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano
(Google Maps)