Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2018

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2018
Author: Rabah Arezki
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 98
Release: 2018-10-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464813671

"After a sharp fall in 2017, economic growth in MENA is projected to rebound to 3.1 percent in 2018, thanks to the positive global outlook, oil prices stabilizing at relatively higher levels, stabilization policies and reforms, and recovery and reconstruction as conflicts recede. The outlook for MENA remains positive, and the growth rebound is expected to gain momentum over the next two years, exceeding 3 percent in 2020. While stabilization policies have helped economies adjust in recent years, .a second phase of reforms is needed should be transformative if the region is to reach its potential and create jobs for hundred million young people who will enter the labor market in coming decades. In this report, we explore the role that public-private partnerships can play. not only in providing an alternative source of financing but in helping change the role of the state from the main provider of employment to an enabler of private sector activity. Studies have shown that the gap between MENA economies and fast-growing ones is the performance of the services sector. The disruptive technology offers new opportunities for boosting private-sector-led growth through enhancement of high-tech jobs in the services sector. The report argues that combining the region's fast-growing pool of university graduates and a heavy penetration of social media and smartphone, could serve as the foundation for a digital sector that could create much-needed private sector jobs for the youth over the next decade."

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, Spring 2018

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, Spring 2018
Author: Rabah Arezki
Publisher:
Total Pages: 55
Release: 2018
Genre: Economic development
ISBN: 9781464812880

After a sharp fall in 2017, economic growth in MENA is projected to rebound to 3.1 percent in 2018, thanksto the positive global outlook, oil prices stabilizing at relatively higher levels, stabilization policies andreforms, and recovery and reconstruction as conflicts recede. The outlook for MENA remains positive, andthe growth rebound is expected to gain momentum over the next two years, exceeding 3 percent in 2020. While stabilization policies have helped economies adjust in recent years, .a second phase of reforms isneeded should be transformative if the region is to reach its potential and create jobs for hundred millionyoung people who will enter the labor market in coming decades. In this report, we explore the role thatpublic-private partnerships can play. not only in providing an alternative source of financing but in helpingchange the role of the state from the main provider of employment to an enabler of private sector activity. Studies have shown that the gap between MENA economies and fast-growing ones is the performance of theservices sector. The disruptive technology offers new opportunities for boosting private-sector-led growththrough enhancement of high-tech jobs in the services sector. The report argues that combining the region'sfast-growing pool of university graduates and a heavy penetration of social media and smartphone, couldserve as the foundation for a digital sector that could create much-needed private sector jobs for the youthover the next decade.

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2018

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2018
Author: Rabah Arezki
Publisher:
Total Pages: 55
Release: 2019
Genre:
ISBN:

After a sharp fall in 2017, economic growth in MENA is projected to rebound to 3.1 percent in 2018, thanksto the positive global outlook, oil prices stabilizing at relatively higher levels, stabilization policies andreforms, and recovery and reconstruction as conflicts recede. The outlook for MENA remains positive, andthe growth rebound is expected to gain momentum over the next two years, exceeding 3 percent in 2020. While stabilization policies have helped economies adjust in recent years, .a second phase of reforms isneeded should be transformative if the region is to reach its potential and create jobs for hundred millionyoung people who will enter the labor market in coming decades. In this report, we explore the role thatpublic-private partnerships can play. not only in providing an alternative source of financing but in helpingchange the role of the state from the main provider of employment to an enabler of private sector activity. Studies have shown that the gap between MENA economies and fast-growing ones is the performance of theservices sector. The disruptive technology offers new opportunities for boosting private-sector-led growththrough enhancement of high-tech jobs in the services sector. The report argues that combining the region'sfast-growing pool of university graduates and a heavy penetration of social media and smartphone, couldserve as the foundation for a digital sector that could create much-needed private sector jobs for the youthover the next decade.

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, April 2015

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, April 2015
Author: Shantayanan Devarajan
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 56
Release: 2015-04-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 146480608X

The economic outlook for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2015 is slightly more favorable than in 2013-14, when the region as a whole grew at 3 percent a year. The World Bank group’s latest MENA Economic Monitor projects MENA’s economic growth to average 5.2 percent in 2015 driven by domestic consumption, easing political tensions crowding-in investments in Egypt and Tunisia, and full resumption of oil production in Libya. However the violent conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Yemen and Libya with their spillovers to Lebanon and Jordan could make MENA’s economic prospects bleak. The report has a special focus on the corrosive nature of the large energy subsidies in MENA. The MENA region is currently experiencing growth below potential, high unemployment, urban air pollution and congestion, and severe water scarcity that is undermining agriculture. The report shows how energy subsidies have contributed to these development challenges. Reforming these subsidies, therefore, should be one of the highest priorities of policymakers.

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor April 2016

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor April 2016
Author: Shantayanan Devarajan
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 70
Release: 2016-04-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464809070

The short term economic outlook for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remains “cautiously pessimistic†?. A combination of civil wars and refugee inflows, terrorist attacks, cheap oil, and subdued global economic recovery is expected to keep average growth in the MENA region around 3 percent in 2016, for the fourth year in a row. Furthermore, the humanitarian and economic situation in the war torn countries keep deteriorating. In this report we will explore ways in which a strategy of reconstruction of Syria—the most war-ravaged country in the region—could help foster a sustainable peace. This report argues that the impact of the civil war on the Syrian society will be persistent, and the challenges facing the country need to be addressed now. The report calls for the international community to be the guarantor of an inclusive reconstruction strategy that not only makes peace sustainable tomorrow, but makes it happen today: peace and reconstruction are two sides of the same coin.

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor April 2015

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor April 2015
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 54
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

The economic outlook for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2015 is slightly more favorable than in 2013-14, when the region as a whole grew at 3 percent a year. The World Bank group's latest MENA Economic Monitor projects MENA's economic growth to average 5.2 percent in 2015 driven by domestic consumption, easing political tensions crowding-in investments in Egypt and Tunisia, and full resumption of oil production in Libya. However the violent conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Yemen and Libya with their spillovers to Lebanon and Jordan could make MENA's economic prospects bleak. The report has a special focus on the corrosive nature of the large energy subsidies in MENA. The MENA region is currently experiencing growth below potential, high unemployment, urban air pollution and congestion, and severe water scarcity that is undermining agriculture. The report shows how energy subsidies have contributed to these development challenges. Reforming these subsidies, therefore, should be one of the highest priorities of policymakers.

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2014

Middle East and North Africa Economic Monitor, October 2014
Author: Shantayanan Devarajan
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 54
Release: 2014-11-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464804427

The economic outlook for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2015 is slightly more favorable than in 2013-14, when the region as a whole grew at 3 percent a year. The World Bank group’s latest MENA Economic Monitor projects MENA’s economic growth to average 5.2 percent in 2015 driven by domestic consumption, easing political tensions crowding-in investments in Egypt and Tunisia, and full resumption of oil production in Libya. However the violent conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Yemen and Libya with their spillovers to Lebanon and Jordan could make MENA’s economic prospects bleak. The report has a special focus on the corrosive nature of the large energy subsidies in MENA. The MENA region is currently experiencing growth below potential, high unemployment, urban air pollution and congestion, and severe water scarcity that is undermining agriculture. The report shows how energy subsidies have contributed to these development challenges. Reforming these subsidies, therefore, should be one of the highest priorities of policymakers.

Middle East and North Africa Economic Developments and Prospects, October 2012

Middle East and North Africa Economic Developments and Prospects, October 2012
Author: WORLD BANK
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 48
Release: 2012-10-27
Genre: Africa, North
ISBN: 0821398075

The post-revolutionary economies of MENA - Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen - have been recovering after a period of growth decelerations in 2011. In Egypt and Tunisia, the growth dips of 2011 were less dramatic than the declines observed during previous transitions. The recovery has been relatively quick but the transition process is far from complete and uncertainty about the political and reform process remains a binding constraint to private investment. Consequently, post-transition growth is below potential and is lower than growth prior to the Arab Spring, with negative consequences for employment and poverty. Events in the post-revolution economies have affected other countries in MENA. Macroeconomic fundamentals weakened in most developing MENA countries in 2011-12 as growth slowed and governments responded to social pressures with expansionary fiscal policies. The regional growth outlook for 2013 reflects weaker expected global economic activity, especially in the EU, and moderating oil prices. Regional economic growth is expected to decelerate to 3.5% in 2013 from 5.5% in 2012. Prolonged political and policy uncertainty and social unrest are serious downside risks to the outlook.

Middle East and North Africa Regional Economic Update, April 2014

Middle East and North Africa Regional Economic Update, April 2014
Author: Shantayanan Devarajan
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 28
Release: 2014-06-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464803951

Compared with the previous three years, 2014 seems hopeful and 2015 could be a turning point for the countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Many countries in MENA will start to benefit from stronger external demand in the high-income economies, as the global economy is set for a rebound in 2014. In the MENA region, higher global demand is expected to boost exports of energy and manufactured products in those countries that have trade linkages with high- income countries. Growth in MENA is expected to reach 3.3 percent in 2014 and further accelerate to 4.6 percent in 2015. Nevertheless, the prospects for growth in MENA could be threatened if long awaited structural problems remain unresolved.