Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Mahmoud Arayssi

Author

Mahmoud Arayssi
Associate Professor of Finance, Institute of Islamic Finance

Mahmoud Arayssi is an associate professor of finance. He holds a PhD in Economics from Indiana University and he has a mixed background in both economics and finance with a BA from the American University of Beirut and an MA from The University of Chicago. He is a certified Islamic finance executive (CIFE) from ETHICA Institute of Islamic Finance since 2018. He has extensively researched MENA countries finance and growth in the wake of the Arab spring, as well as corporate governance, gender and performance in firms and growth volatility spillovers.

Content by this Author

Reframing sustainable finance: lessons from Lebanon

Capital investment is needed to fund the green transition. This means that the finance sector must be involved in combating the climate crisis in countries around the world, including Lebanon. This column argues that to ensure that these funding needs are met, policy-makers should work in harmony with other stakeholders to ensure that businesses are incentivized to de-carbonise their operations. Only by easing the process of the green transition through sustainable financing can countries like Lebanon meet their environmental pledges. Policy action to support such funding is needed urgently.

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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.

Challenges of conflict and industrial policy for development

How effective is industrial policy as a tool for long-term economic growth and development? Against the backdrop of the conflict currently engulfing the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP), a new report argues that while industrial policies are widely used across the region, they can only address market failures and foster growth when they are aligned with country capabilities, implemented with accountability and backed by capable institutions.

The green transition in MENA economies: challenges and policy pathways

The economies of the Middle East and North Africa are at a critical turning point. Global decarbonisation pressures, energy market volatility and technological transformation are increasingly challenging hydrocarbon-based growth models. This column argues that the green transition is not only an environmental necessity but also a strategic economic imperative.




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