Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Mahour Parast

Author

Mahour Parast
Eminent Scholar, Del E. Webb School of Construction, Arizona State University, USA

Mahour Parast is an Eminent Scholar at the Del E. Webb School of Construction. His research focuses on supply chain disruption risk, supply chain resilience, and process and product innovation. His scholarly works have appeared in several international peer-reviewed journals He has been the principal investigator of several projects related to supply chain management, technology management, and technological innovation and entrepreneurship from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), VentureWell, and the Qatar Foundation. He has several years of industrial experience as a quality manager and strategic planner in the auto, electric power, and agriculture industries.

Content by this Author

Self-employment in MENA: the role of religiosity and personal values

How important are individual’s values and beliefs in influencing the likelihood that they will embrace the responsibilities, risks and entrepreneurial challenge of self-employment? This column presents evidence from 12 countries in the Middle East and North African region on the roles of people’s religiosity and sense of personal agency in their labour market choices.

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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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