Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Goran M. Muhamad

Author

Goran M. Muhamad
Lecturer in Economics and Finance, University of Kurdistan Hewler

Dr. Goran Muhamad, born in Sulaimanya. He has well academic qualifications in economics, including BSc, Higher Diploma and MSc. His Master degree is from Nottingham University, one of the most prestigious universities in the UK. He recently earned PhD in economics at University of Kurdistan, Hawler in July 2020. His focus was on economic diversification in natural resource rich countries to reduce the degree of dependency on resource revenue extractions. He was also attended Jonkoping University (Sweden) whilst he was a PhD student. Dr. Goran is a well experienced economist with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry as well as private sectors, who is confident in his ability. He is also participated in the evaluation and analyzing of some critical projects on IDPs and Refugees in Kurdistan region for donors and international agencies. His last career, in the government industry, was at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers/KRG as a senior manager. He involved in leading and managing some critical projects and delivering the best qualities and analysis from using quantitative skills to simplify complex topics to draw conclusions (in policy and governance). He has been well reviewed for what he had provided by the KRG leaders including his excellency the ex-prime minister Mr. Nichervan Barzani during his mandate. Dr. Goran have designed and led high-quality taught courses, supervision/advising and examination and teaching management, including EMBA, MSc and undergraduate programmes. So far, Dr. Goran has produced three papers for publications. One has been recently published at Global Economic review titled The Dynamics of Private Sector Development in Natural Resource Dependent Countries. One more article is under review at high ranked economic journal of Resource Policy and the third one is also under review at Human and Social Science Journal.

Content by this Author

Aid in the development of the Kurdistan region of Iraq

Since the establishment of the Kurdistan region of Iraq in 1992, international aid has played an important role in development of the region. This column outlines the effects before and after the war.

Dependency on natural resources and diversification of economies in MENA

It is widely understood that natural resource dependency can have a significant negative impact on a country’s long-term economic growth. This column explores evidence for how such outcomes arise – as well as potential diversification strategies that could help to reduce the resource curse in the economies of the Middle East and North Africa.

Most read

Sanctions and the shrinking size of Iran’s middle class

International sanctions imposed on Iran from 2012 have reduced the size of the country’s middle class, according to new research summarised in this column. The findings highlight the profound social consequences of economic pressure, not least given the crucial role of that segment of society for national innovation, growth and stability. The study underscores the need for policies to safeguard the civilian population in countries targeted by sanctions.

Artificial intelligence and the renewable energy transition in MENA

Artificial intelligence has the potential to bridge the gap between abundant natural resources and the pressing need for reliable, sustainable power in the Middle East and North Africa. This column outlines the constraints and proposes policies that can address the challenges of variability of renewable resources and stress on power grids, and support the transformation of ‘sunlight’ to ‘smart power’.

Green jobs for MENA in the age of AI: crafting a sustainable labour market

Arab economies face a dual transformation: the decarbonisation imperative driven by climate change; and the rapid digitalisation brought by artificial intelligence. This column argues that by strategically managing the green-AI nexus, policy-makers in the region can position their countries not merely as followers adapting to global mandates but as leaders in sustainable innovation.

Egypt’s forgotten democratisation: a challenge to modern myths about MENA

A widely held narrative asserts that countries in the Middle East are inevitably authoritarian. This column reports new research that tracks Egyptian parliamentarians since 1824 to reveal that the region’s struggle with democracy is not in fact about cultural incompatibility: it’s about colonialism disrupting home-grown democratic movements and elite conflicts being resolved through disenfranchisement rather than power-sharing.

MENA integration into global value chains and sustainable development

Despite the geopolitical advantages, abundant natural resources and young populations of many countries in the Middle East and North Africa, they remain on the periphery of global value chains, the international networks of production and service activities that now dominate the world economy. This column explains the positive impact of integration into GVCs on exports and employment; its role in technology transfer and capacity upgrading; and the structural barriers that constrain the region’s involvement. Greater GVC participation can help to deliver structural transformation and sustainable development.

Arab youth and the future of work

The Arab region’s labour markets are undergoing a triple transformation: demographic, digital and green. As this column explains, whether these forces evolve into engines of opportunity or drivers of exclusion for young people will hinge on how swiftly and coherently policy-makers can align education, technology and employment systems to foster adaptive skills, inclusive institutions and innovation-led pathways to decent work.

Wrong finance in a broken multilateral system: red flags from COP30-Belém

With the latest global summit on climate action recently wrapped up, ambitious COP pledges and initiatives continue to miss delivery due to inadequate commitments, weak operationalisation and unclear reporting systems. As this column reports, flows of climate finance remain skewed: loans over grants; climate mitigation more than climate adaptation; and weak accountability across mechanisms. Without grant-based finance, debt relief, climate-adjusted lending and predictable multilateral flows, implementation of promises will fail.

Why political connections are driving business confidence in MENA

This column reports the findings of a new study of how the political ties of firms in the Middle East and North Africa boost business confidence. The research suggests that this optimism is primarily driven by networked access to credit and lobbying, underscoring the need for greater transparency and institutional reform in corporate governance.

Digitalising governance in MENA: opportunities for social justice

Can digital governance promote social justice in MENA – or does it risk deepening inequality and exclusion? This column examines the evolution of digital governance in three sub-regions – Egypt, Jordan and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council – highlighting how data practices, transparency mechanisms and citizen trust shape the social outcomes of technological reform.




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