Spotlight 2024

The future of global macro and markets leadership – Will the US be overtaken?

Tuesday 11th June

Myo St Paul’s, One New Change, London EC4M 9AF

The global economy has recently been characterised by the outperformance of the US economy and its financial markets. But past performance is no guarantee of future results.

This year’s Spotlight project from Capital Economics explores the hot-button question of whether the US can continue to lead the global economy, highlighting the risks to both its economic outperformance – from domestic politics to global competition – and to its world-leading financial market returns.

At our annual Spotlight event in London, our senior economists will participate in a panel discussion and take questions from the audience whilst highlighting the key findings from our latest project, pinpointing the risks and opportunities in a global economy and financial market system where ongoing US supremacy is in question.

Meet the speakers

Neil Shearing

Group Chief Economist

Neil Shearing is our Group Chief Economist. He has overall responsibility for managing our team of economists and leading our research, as well as developing the firm’s products and its relationship with clients. He is also a director of the company. Neil is the first point of contact for many clients and presents regularly on the global economic and financial market outlook. He is a well-known voice within the investment community and has written articles in the Financial Times and a number of other newspapers, as well as appearing regularly on TV and radio. Prior to becoming Group Chief Economist, Neil was our Chief Emerging Markets Economist, managing a team that won several awards for forecast accuracy. He also managed our New York office. Neil joined Capital Economics from HM Treasury where he worked as an Economic Adviser in various areas, including fiscal policy and global economics. He holds degrees in Economics from the University of York and the University of London and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Jennifer McKeown

Chief Global Economist

Jennifer McKeown is Chief Global Economist at Capital Economics. She leads a team of economists producing research on global themes and works closely with economists across Capital Economics’ regional services to shape the global view and to draw out the key implications of our forecasts. She is an important point of contact for many clients and presents frequently on the global economic outlook in person and at online events, as well as appearing regularly on TV and radio. Prior to becoming Chief Global Economist, Jennifer was Chief Europe Economist at Capital Economics. She joined the company from the Bank of England, where she also specialised in the economics of the euro-zone. She holds an MSc in economics from University College London and a BA in economics from the University of East Anglia.

Vicky Redwood

Senior Economic Adviser

Vicky Redwood is our Senior Economic Adviser, primarily writing in-depth think pieces about cross-country issues. Vicky has worked at Capital Economics since 2003 and was previously the company’s Chief UK Economist. She joined Capital Economics from the Bank of England where, amongst other roles, she worked on the Financial Stability Review. Before working at the Bank, she studied Economics at Oxford and Warwick.
Hubert de Barochez

Senior Markets Economist

Hubert de Barochez is a Senior Economist in the Global Markets team. Prior to joining Capital Economics, he worked as economic policy analyst at MEDEF, the main business organisation in France, and as macroeconomist at BNP Paribas. Hubert holds master's degrees in economics, finance, and engineering.
Stephen Brown

Deputy Chief North America Economist

Stephen Brown is our Deputy Chief North America Economist has been with Capital Economics since 2014. He has worked from both our London and Toronto offices, covering the economies of Europe, Canada and the US. In 2021, Stephen was named the most accurate forecaster of the Canadian economy by Refinitiv, FocusEconomics and Consensus Economics. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Bath and an MSc in Economic History from the London School of Economics.