Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Alban Thomas

Author

Alban Thomas
Senior Researcher and the head of the Social Science Division at INRA (French Institute for Agricultural Research).

Alban Thomas is a Senior Researcher and the head of the Social Science Division at INRA (French Institute for Agricultural Research). An environmental and agricultural economist, his research topics include the empirical analysis of environmental impacts from agriculture, the evaluation of environmental policies, water use and tariff design, and the adoption of innovative agricultural systems. He has co-ordinated several scientific expertises on water and the environment for ministries and international institutions (World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Economic Research Forum). He is the co-ordinator of the interdisciplinary Inra-Cirad ten-year programme GloFoodS on transitions towards global food security.

Content by this Author

Policies to reduce air pollution in Cairo

Vehicle exhaust fumes are a major cause of air pollution in megacities like Cairo. This column outlines the policies that the Egyptian authorities have introduced in an effort to cut emission rates and raise the costs to users of polluting vehicles. Air pollution has been reduced but much remains to be done, notably investing in an effective public transport system.

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The political economy of stalled structural reforms in MENA

There is a persistent pattern to the structural reforms that are required to underpin economic progress in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa: ambitious strategies are announced and partially implemented, but ultimately they are diluted or reversed. This column argues that the repeated stalling of reform is not primarily a failure of economic design. Rather, it reflects deep-seated political economy constraints rooted in rent dependence, elite bargaining and weak institutional credibility. Without addressing these underlying dynamics, reform efforts are likely to remain symbolic rather than transformative.

Untapped talent, unrealised growth: jobs and women in the MENAAP region

Only around one in five women of working age participate in the labour markets of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. As this column explains, the region can no longer afford to leave half its human capital underused. Expanding women’s labour force participation is central to growth and resilience in the face of looming demographic change.

Closing the gender gap in political participation in MENA

Women across the Middle East and North Africa participate less than men in politics – not only in political parties and elections, but also in petitions, boycotts, protests and strikes. This column reports evidence from ten countries showing that differences in education, employment and political attitudes explain part of this disparity, yet a significant gender gap remains.

Labour demand and informal employment in Egypt’s manufacturing sector

Egypt’s manufacturing sector faces a dual challenge of weak job creation and persistent informality. Drawing on survey evidence on business behaviour and labour market dynamics, this column explains why job creation is limited and informal work remains such an integral part of how firms organise production. The generation of more formal jobs requires a comprehensive policy approach, one that goes beyond enforcement of labour regulations to reshape the economic environment in which firms and workers make decisions.




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