How can we better invest in people?

Can We Save the Middle Class?

January 22, 2026
09:00–09:45 (Europe/Amsterdam time zone)

About this session

Globally, the middle class had been growing by about 54 million people every year since 2011, but with the pandemic in 2020 that growth tapered off, while concerns about long-term job security are rising. How will AI impact middle-class economics and where are economies focused on growth from the middle out despite the odds?

This is a livestreamed session.

Speakers

OC
Oren Cass
Founder and Chief Economist
American Compass
CH
Christy Hoffman
General Secretary
UNI Global Union
SP
Salil S. Parekh
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director
Infosys
SS
Stacey Vanek Smith
Senior Writer, Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Media

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