Michael Baltensperger
Former Research assistant
Michael is a research assistant at Bruegel focusing on international trade and energy economics. Prior to joining Bruegel, he worked for the Economic Research and Statistics Division of the World Trade Organization and as an external collaborator for the International Labour Organization. As a student, Michael was a research assistant for Political Economy at the Faculty of Business and Economics in Basel.
Michael holds a Master’s degree in International Economics from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and Bachelor’s degrees in History as well as Business and Economics from the University of Basel.
He is a Swiss citizen, speaks German and English and has a good knowledge of French.
Featured work
The European Union-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement: Prospects and risks
After nearly 20 years of on-off negotiations, the European Union and Mercosur – a customs union covering Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – in
The consequences of Switzerland’s lost equivalence status
Due to a spat between the European Commission and the government of Switzerland over the negotiation of an institutional framework agreement, equity s
Europe – the global centre for excellent research
This report, requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, analyses the EU’s potential to be a global centre of e
Is an electric car a cleaner car?
An article published by the Ifo Institute in Germany compares the carbon footprint of a battery-electric car to that of a diesel car, and argues a hig
All work
Policy Brief
24 September 2019
The European Union-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement: Prospects and risks
After nearly 20 years of on-off negotiations, the European Union and Mercosur – a customs union covering Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – in
Blog post
25 July 2019
The consequences of Switzerland’s lost equivalence status
Due to a spat between the European Commission and the government of Switzerland over the negotiation of an institutional framework agreement, equity s
External publication
22 May 2019
Europe – the global centre for excellent research
This report, requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, analyses the EU’s potential to be a global centre of e
Blog post
13 May 2019
Is an electric car a cleaner car?
An article published by the Ifo Institute in Germany compares the carbon footprint of a battery-electric car to that of a diesel car, and argues a hig
Blog post
15 April 2019
Why China's current account balance approaches zero
China’s current account is projected to be balanced within the next few years. Observers disagree whether this is due to structural factors or Chinese
Blog post
25 February 2019
The Economists’ Statement on Carbon Dividends and the Green New Deal
In the last month two prominent policy proposals that aim to combat climate change have been presented in the United States. The Green New Deal calls
Blog post
14 January 2019
What 2019 could bring: A look inside the crystal ball
Economic performance prospects in Europe, the US and Asia in 2019. We start off by reviewing commentaries and predictions about the euro zone, which m
Policy Brief
10 January 2019
The Belt and Road turns five
Five years after its launch, Michael Baltensperger and Uri Dadush reflect on China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The plan to revive ancient trade routes
Blog post
20 November 2018
Euro-area sovereign bond holdings: An update on the impact of quantitative easing
Since the European Central Bank’s announcement of its quantitative easing (QE) programme in January 2015, national central banks have been buying gove