Manuel Balmaseda, Ph.D.

Manuel Balmaseda is the former chief economist at CEMEX, a leading global building materials corporation. Previously he served as chief economist for Spain and Europe at BBVA, chief economist for Capital Markets at BBV, professor of economics at CEMFI and visiting researcher at the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis. He has also taught at the IESE Business School in Madrid, the EOI (School of Industrial Organization) in Madrid and the Helsinki School of Economics. He collaborates with the IMF, the EU Commission, the OECD, the Secretaría General Sudamericana and other private organizations on topics related to the economics perspectives and policy action in the US, the Euro zone, Latin America and Spain, and particularly, issues related to the construction sector, real estate markets and fiscal and monetary developments. Mr. Balmaseda holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in economics from Northwestern University and a B.A. in economics, government and mathematics-computer science from Colby College. He is a member of several international organizations: the ECB Shadow Council, ICBE (International Conference of Business Economists), EMNET (Emerging Market Network), the Global Interdependence Council, NBEIC (National Business Economic Issues Council), the Board of Directors of NABE (National Association of Business Economics) in the US and Grupo de Expertos de Coyuntura in Spain, among other economic organizations. His current professional interests focus on international economic developments, construction and real estate market evolution, economic impact of fiscal consolidation, crisis resolution, and institutional and market reform. Mr. Balmaseda participates in conferences on these and other topics and has published numerous articles in academic journals and books and in the press.