Innovate@UCLA Annual Economic Outlook

This annual economic outlook will address a number of critical topics ranging from technology to the economic impact of the recent wildfires to what we anticipate will happen as a new presidential administration begins.

We’re pleased to announce that UCLA Anderson Forecast’s Thomas Ash will join us to deliver the latest economic outlook for California and the US. Dr. Ash will address a number of critical topics ranging from technology to the economic impact of the recent wildfires to what we anticipate will happen as a new presidential administration begins. An important theme of the talk will be the increased economic policy uncertainty and how to manage it. Dr Ash will also discuss tariffs and some of the academic research that has been done to understand their impact.

Following this presentation, we’ll host a panel discussion titled “Tech for Housing Resilience & Rebuilding Post-Wildfires,” moderated by Bhupesh Arora, Executive Chair of Innovate@UCLA, with panelists Greg Moore, VP & CIO of KB Home, and Phillip Leclair, CIO at the City of Pasadena.

As our local communities recover from recent wildfires, this conversation will explore how technology leaders from both public and private sectors are leveraging innovative solutions to support resiliency, speed up rebuilding efforts, and create sustainable and affordable housing for the future.

Agenda:

• 6:00 – 6:28 PM: Networking & Dinner

• 6:28 – 6:30 PM: Welcome by Bhupesh Arora, Executive Chair, Innovate@UCLA

• 6:30 – 7:15 PM: Economic Outlook Presentation, Dr. Thomas Ash, Research Economist, UCLA Anderson Forecast

• 7:15 – 7:30 PM: Audience Q&A with Dr. Ash

• 7:30 – 7:50 PM: Panel Discussion “Tech for Housing Resilience & Rebuilding Post-Wildfires”
  • Phillip Leclair, CIO, City of Pasadena
  • Greg Moore, VP & CIO, KB Home and Sponsorship Chair, Innovate@UCLA
  • Moderated by: Bhupesh Arora, Executive Chair, Innovate@UCLA

• 7:50 – 8:00 PM: Panel Q&A and Closing Remarks

About the Speaker:

Thomas Ash is Economist at UCLA Anderson Forecast and Researcher at UCLA Anderson. His research involves subjects in Macroeconomics, Finance, Digital/Media Economics, Climate Change and Migration. His work uses a range of methods, including empirical data analyses, optimization modelling and machine learning methods to answer research questions in these areas. He has particular expertise in the use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) methodologies.

Prior to joining UCLA, Thomas obtained a PhD in Economics from the University of Southern California. He holds a Bachelors and Masters in Economics from the London School of Economics, as well as a Graduate Certificate and Masters in Mathematics from the University of London, Birkbeck. Finally, Thomas worked for over five years in Economic Consulting at National Economic Research Associates (NERA) and Oxford Economics.

For the UCLA Anderson Forecast, Thomas is involved in developing forecasts of the impacts of Climate Change on the economy, as well as forecasts of the California Economy. Thomas' most recent research examines Green Finance and ESG, Social Media's role in herding, polarization and asset price bubbles, as well as Macroeconomic models that analyze the impact of Climate Change through its impact on Natural Disaster