Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Ioannis Bournakis

Ioannis Bournakis

Income inequality convergence across Egyptian governorates

View all columns
Irène Selwaness

Irène Selwaness

Labour demand and informal employment in Egypt’s manufacturing sector

Social insurance in Egypt: between costly formality and legal informality

Supporting employment opportunities for women in Egypt’s ICT sector

Women’s employment and care work in MENA during the pandemic

Recognising and redistributing unpaid care work in Egypt

View all columns
Isabel Honzay

Isabel Honzay

Sudan’s labour market in an era of shocks

View all columns
Ishac Diwan

Ishac Diwan

The historical roots of state weakness and social inequities in Lebanon

To escape the crisis, embark on a path of renewal

Covid-19, trust and rising economic challenges in the Arab world

Lebanon’s dysfunctional political economy

Mahmoud Mohieldin and Ishac Diwan on the Political Economy of COVID 19

View all columns
Islem Khefacha

Islem Khefacha

Gender and corruption in MENA countries

View all columns

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.




Linkedin