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Editors' picks

Debt clouds over the Middle East

A number of MENA countries face high debt levels. Egypt, ...

Commentary

COVID-19 pandemic and the Middle East and Central Asia

The number of confirmed COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East ...

Video

Mahmoud Mohieldin and Ishac Diwan on the Political Economy of COVID 19

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as the rest of the world, is facing human, economic and social crises. A decade of political instability, violence and austerity had left critical public institutions insufficiently prepared and underfunded to deal with this perfect storm. While the countries of the region are all exposed to this storm, they are not in the same boat. Their initial conditions, preparedness to shocks and readiness to adapt, change and rebuild are different. Within countries their has also been increasing inequality, and in many cases countries suffered from significant increase in extreme poverty. Despite some efforts there are alarming indicators of drifting from the path towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) Comprehensive socioeconomic actions are needed to meet the requirements of response and recovery within as well as across countries. While there has been a great deal of discrepancies in crisis response, the recovery may take different paths and widen the existent gaps and deepen the divergence in the region. Building back better and creating resilience includes addressing the inequality which have made some societies more vulnerable than others. The comprehensive nature and magnitude of the crisis requires very different approach of policy design including the political economy of responses to the crisis and plans for recovery.

In focus

Sources of the 2020 crisis in Lebanon

The devastating financial tsunami that is engulfing Lebanon has been ...

Lebanon must learn from the Syrian disaster

Overlapping crises are threatening the political, economic and social stability ...

With the global economy is in its third year of deceleration amid declining inflation and oil prices, the Middle East and North Africa grew by just 1.9% in 2023, with a forecast for growth in 2024 at 2.7%. In addition to heightened uncertainty brought on by the conflict centred in Gaza, many countries in the region are also grappling with pre-existing vulnerabilities, including rising debt levels. This column summarises a new report that unpacks the nature of debt in MENA – and explains the critical importance of keeping rising debt stocks in check.

Sanctions and carbon emissions in Iran

How are Iran’s energy use and emissions of carbon dioxide affected by the imposition of economic sanctions? This column summarises new research that analyses a range of different scenarios and which takes account of multiple economic, social and environmental dimensions, notably what happens to growth and energy intensity, and whether sanctions are lifted.

Making aid-for-trade more effective in the MENA region

Aid-for-trade represents an important opportunity for developing countries to enhance their trade capacities. But the positive effect of aid-for-trade on exports can hinge on the quality of institutions in recipient countries. According to research reported in this column, in the Middle East and North Africa, it is specific aid types – such as aid to support trade policy reform and aid to enhance productive capacities – that matter most for exports.

Can a free trade area in services boost trade within the Arab region?

With trade in goods among Arab countries remaining modest, trade in services could play the pivotal role of an engine of growth in economic integration within the region, as well greater participation in global value chains. This column outlines progress to date and what needs to be done to make a success of AFTAS, the Arab free trade area in services.

Natural disaster literacy in Iran: survey evidence from Tehran

The frequent floods, earthquakes, and heat waves in the Middle East and North Africa underscore the urgent need to assess the region's preparedness for natural disasters. This column summarizes the state of 'natural disaster literacy' in various parts of Tehran, the capital of Iran and one of the most populous metropolitan areas in MENA. Data from a survey conducted in the winter of 2020/21 enabled the development of a disaster literacy index, which helps to identify the city's most vulnerable districts.

Economic roots of early marriage in Iran

Despite the documented harms of being married off before the age of 18, particularly for girls, early marriage remains common in parts of Iran. This column summarises research that sheds light on the economic factors that drive this practice, using unique provincial data to show that poverty, inflation and income inequality are key determinants –while religiosity is not. The findings suggest that economic policies can play a crucial role in reducing the prevalence of child marriage.

Should Arab countries join the WTO’s agreement on government procurement?

Not all members of the World Trade Organization are signatories of the institution’s Agreement on Government Procurement – the GPA. Indeed, although many developing economies are now joining the agreement or at least acquiring observer status, it has long been thought that the costs outweigh the benefits. This column re-evaluates the pros and cons of GPA accession for Arab countries.

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