Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Norman Loayza

Author

Norman Loayza
Lead Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank

Norman Loayza currently heads the World Bank's research hub for Asia, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Most recently, he was director of the World Development Report 2014, Risk and Opportunity: Risk Management for Development. Norman is Peruvian and holds a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University, awarded in 1994. Since then he has worked in the World Bank research group, except in 1999-2000 when he was a senior economist at the Central Bank of Chile. Norman's research has addressed various areas of economic and social development, including macroeconomic management through monetary and fiscal policy, reforms for economic growth and productivity, an analysis of investment returns and risks across the world. His advisory experience at the World Bank has covered several regions and countries of the world, including Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia. Norman has edited 10 books and published over 50 articles in professional journals and books.

Content by this Author

The future of work: race with – not against – the machine

History suggests that in the long term, fears of technology leading to job loss and reduced wages are misplaced. But in the short and medium term, dislocation can be severe for certain types of work, places and populations. This column argues that in the transition period, policies are needed to facilitate labour market flexibility and mobility, to introduce and strengthen safety nets and social protection, and to improve education and training.

Most read

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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