Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Majid Al-Moneef

Author

Majid Al-Moneef
Chairman of the International Advisory Committee of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC)

Dr. Majid Al-Moneef is the Chairman of the International Advisory Committee of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC). He was the Secretary Generl and a member of the Supreme Economic Council of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia’s Governor to OPEC, the Chairman of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Energy Working Group, president of the Saudi Economic Association, professor of economics and vice dean at King Saud University and president of the Arab Energy Forum, He was a member of the Saudi Consultative Assembly, the Board of Trustees of the Economic Research Forum, the Officers Council of the International Association of Energy Economics( IAEE), the editorial Board of the Saudi Economic Journal and the advisory Board of OPEC Energy Review.

Content by this Author

The energy sector reforms of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

Energy constitutes a major building block of Saudi Arabia’s economic reform agenda described in the government’s Vision 2030. This column outlines the key considerations, including the future role of the oil industry, energy efficiency programmes, domestic energy prices and diversification of energy sources.

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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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