Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Mahmoud-Sami Nabi

Author

Mahmoud-Sami Nabi
Professor of Economics, University of Carthage

Mahmoud Sami NABI is Professor of Economics at the University of Carthage (FSEGN & LEGI). He occupied the position of Head of the Economics Department at Tunisia Polytechnic School (TPS) from January 2014 to June 2016. Previous to that, he joined the Research Division of IRTI (IsDB Group) from June 2011 to November 2013 as Senior Research Economist. Mr. Nabi holds an Engineering Diploma from TPS, and a PhD in economics from the University of Paris I Sorbonne. He published several papers in refereed international journals under the finance-development theme. he is an ERF Research Fellows.

Content by this Author

Improving access to finance and social cohesion in MENA

The Covid-19 crisis is exacerbating income inequalities in the Middle East and North Africa, pushing many vulnerable people into poverty and causing bankruptcy for multiple micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. This column explores some financial innovations to help address these huge challenges, particularly focusing on improving access to finance for individuals and small businesses.

Financial systems in MENA: time to embrace digital technologies

The growing use of digital technologies in financial services provision holds promise for MENA countries to improve their financial systems and promote greater financial inclusion. This column explores the potential of such innovations as mobile money platforms and crowdfunding to help unleash the region’s economic potential.

Most read

Empowering Egypt’s young people for the future of work

Egypt’s most urgent priority is creating more and better jobs for its growing youth population. This column reports on the first Development Dialogue, an ERF–World Bank joint initiative, which brought together students, scholars, policy-makers and private sector leaders at Cairo University to confront the country’s labour market challenge. The conversation explored why youth inclusion matters, what the data show and how dialogue and the forthcoming Country Economic Memorandum can inform practical pathways to accelerate job creation.

Preparing youth for the workforce of the future

As economies undergo rapid digital and green transformations, young people face a growing mismatch between their skills and what the modern labour market needs. This column argues that enabling youth to compete in the workforce of the future requires systemic reforms in education, skills formation and labour market institutions, especially in developing economies.

Connectivity and conflict: understanding the risks of inequality in the Middle East

While high inequality does not always lead to conflict, new research reported in this column shows that widespread internet access acts as a catalyst, transforming economic grievances into political instability. For policy-makers in the Middle East and North Africa, this means that as digital connectivity expands, the security costs of ignoring economic disparities rise dramatically. The combination of idle youth, high inequality and high-speed internet is a volatile mix.

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.

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.




Linkedin