Ishac Diwan

Ishac Diwan

Director of Research, Finance for Development Lab, Paris School of Economics

Ishac Diwan is the Director of Research for the Finance for Development Lab, a new institute located at the Paris School of Economics where he also teaches economics. Until recently he held the Chair Socio-Economy of the Arab World at Paris Sciences et Lettres | PSL (a consortium of Parisian universities). Diwan received his PhD in economics from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1987, he joined the World Bank’s Research Complex, where he focused on international finance, trade, and macroeconomics. In 1992, with the coming of the Oslo Agreements, he joined the World Bank’s Middle East Department, first as the country economist for the West Bank and Gaza and later as a regional economist. Diwan is a frequent consultant with governments and international organizations, working recently on policy issues in Sudan, Yemen, Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. He directs the Political Economy program of the Economic Research Forum, where he runs two projects on the study of crony capitalism, and the analysis of opinion surveys. His current research interests focus on the political economy of the Middle East, in addition to broader development issues.

Areas of Interest:

  • Political Economy of the Middle East
  • Development and Growth in Africa
  • Financial Flows and Trade – domestic and global issues

Education:

  • M.Sc. and PhD., Economics, University of California, Berkeley, 1979-1984.
  • B.Sc., Economics, University of Montreal, 1979. 

Experience:

  • Director of Research, Finance for Development Lab, Paris School of Economics - Present
  • Chair Arab World, Paris Sciences et Lettres, visiting professor at SIPA, Columbia University, 2017-present
  • Chair Arab World, Paris Sciences et Lettres, visiting researcher at the Paris School of Economics, 2015 -present
  • Director for Africa and the Middle East, Center for International Development, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Harvard University, 2011-2014
  • Country Director, Ethiopia and Sudan (2002-2007), Ghana, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, World Bank, 2007-2011
  • Manager Economic Policy for Poverty Reduction, World Bank Institute, 1996-2002

Latest Publications:

  • Preference for Democracy in the Arab world. With Mohamed Al-Ississ. 2016. Politics and Governance 4 (4), 16-26
  • The Changing Values of Arab Youth. Chapter 2 of the UNDP Arab Human Development Report, 2016
  • Who are the Democrats? Leading Opinions in the Wake of Egypt’s 2011 Popular Uprisings. In Sayre, E. A. and Youssef, T. M. eds., 2016. Young generation awakening: Economics, society, and policy on the eve of the Arab Spring. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Fiscal Policy and Crony Capitalism. With Melani Cammett. In Middle East Economies in Transition. Editor, Ishac Diwan and Ahmad Galal. International Economic Association Series. Palgrave, 2016.
  • Regional and Global Integration of Arab Countries. With El Mouhoub Mouhoud. In Middle East Economies in Transition. Editor, Ishac Diwan and Ahmad Galal. International Economic Association Series. Palgrave, 2016.
  • Middle East Economies in Transition. Editors, Ishac Diwan and Ahmad Galal. International Economic Association Series under the direction of Joseph Stiglitz. Palgrave, 2016.
   
Lebanon at Risk: The Uncertain Road from A Debt Overhang to A New Growth Path

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

August, 2023

Working Papers
Lebanon at Risk – The Uncertain Road to a New Growth Path

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

August, 2023

Policy Briefs
The Economic Legacy of the French Mandate in Lebanon

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

November, 2022

Working Papers
Embarking on a Path of Renewal: MENA Commission on Stabilization and Growth

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

October, 2022

Policy Research Reports
Crony Capitalism in the Middle East – Business and Politics from Liberalization to the Arab Spring

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

June, 2019

Edited Volumes
5
Stabilization and Adjustment: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Policies in MENA
Stabilization and Adjustment: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Policies in MENA

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

2021-12-01

For Transregional Research on Private Sector Development, Digitization and Disruptive Technologies
Cronyism and the Future of the Private Sector in Sudan, Algeria, and Ethiopia

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

2020-01-01

Arab Spring Development Initiative (ASDI)
Banking and Crony Capitalism in Egypt

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

2015-06-15

Arab Spring Development Initiative (ASDI)
Cronyism and Job Creation in Lebanon

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

2015-06-15

Arab Spring Development Initiative (ASDI)
The Pulse of the Arab Street: Understanding the Political Economy of the Arab Uprisings Using Novel Public Opinion Data

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

2014-01-01

2
Webinars
Growing Out of Debt: Perspectives from Developing Countries Around the World

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

Jul 04, 2023

Annual Conferences
ERF 29th Annual Conference: The Future of MENA Development Path: Risks and Opportunities in an Emerging World Order

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

May 04, 2023

Webinars
State Business Relations in Algeria, Sudan and Ethiopia

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

Mar 11, 2023

Conferences
Conference on: What Do We Learn from the 2019 Social Movements in Iraq, Sudan, Algeria, and Lebanon?

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

Dec 15, 2022

Webinars
Embarking on a Path of Renewal: A Joint ERF/FDL Report by the Commission on Stabilization and Growth in the Middle East and North Africa

Areas of Interest: Political Economy of the Middle East Development and Growth in Africa Financial Flows and Trade... Read More

Oct 17, 2022

2
Initiatives & Partnerships

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ERF Policy Brief