Siddy holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Antwerp and a Master's degree in Financial Management from the Vlerick Business School. Passionate by innovation and entrepreneurship, he also participated to an Executive Master in Venture Capital at the Berkeley Haas School of Business. Prior to joining Econopolis, he managed the Investor Relations & Treasury office at Orange Belgium, a telecom company. Siddy also held the position of Telecom, Media & Technology analyst at a large Belgian Asset Management firm. Further, he is also active in the advisory board of StartupVillage and The Beacon, a business and innovation hub in the center of Antwerp focused on Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence in the domains of industry, logistics and smart city. At Econopolis, he is Portfolio Manager of the Econopolis Exponential Technologies Fund.
#MacroFriday: Flip or Flop? Swing states steal the 2024 spotlight!
Swing states, or battleground states, hold a pivotal role in U.S. presidential elections as their electoral votes can shift between Democratic or Republican candidates based on voter trends. These states are highly competitive, with narrow voting margins, making them unpredictable over time. This volatility drives political campaigns to pour a disproportionate amount of time, money, and resources into these states, knowing the election could be decided there.
Since 1992, 30 states have switched party allegiance at least once, highlighting the fluidity of swing states. Key battlegrounds like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin flipped between supporting President Joe Biden in 2020 and former President Donald Trump in 2016. In the 2020 election, seven states, including these five along with Nevada and North Carolina, were won by margins of three percentage points or less.
The blue lines represent polling support for Democratic candidate Harris, while the red lines show backing for Republican candidate Trump. These states have shown considerable volatility throughout the year, with candidates frequently trading leads. For example, in Michigan and Nevada, the races have become significantly closer, reinforcing their importance in determining the election outcome.
For equity investors, the 2024 U.S. election, especially in swing states, could have a significant impact on market sectors and sentiment. The resulting policy changes could influence industries like healthcare, energy, and technology, depending on which party prevails. However, over the medium to long term, broader structural growth themes are likely to become the dominant market drivers.
About the author
Siddy Jobe