Conflict and Debt in the Middle East and North Africa – Seminar on The World Bank’s MENA Economic Update
FromJun 26, 2024 To Jun 26, 2024
Online Webinar
ERF and the office of the Chief Economist, Middle East and North Africa, the World Bank are organizing this online seminar to discuss the World Bank’s latest MENA Economic Update April 2024 – Conflict and Debt in the Middle East and North Africa.
Amid a global economy that is in its third consecutive year of deceleration, the conflict in the middle east has had a devastating impact on the Palestinian people and their economic prospects. The rest of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has also been impacted by the conflict, further shrouding the region in uncertainty. Global shipping diverted away from routes traversing the Red Sea following hostilities near Bab El-Mandeb strait, while economies closest to the epicenter may have seen tourism negatively impacted by the ongoing conflict.
Many MENA economies are also grappling with pre-existing vulnerabilities, including rising debt levels. This report unpacks the nature of debt in the region and finds that, over the past decade, MENA oil importers have been unable to either inflate or grow their way out of debt. The analysis shows that keeping rising debt stocks in check is critical and highlights the need to address debt transparency. Extrabudgetary items, especially for developing oil importers, need to be accounted for. Fiscal balances are key, but only to the extent that they capture the true state of government finances.
Agenda
June 26, 2024
Date
26/06/2024
Location
Online Webinar
Time
From 4:00 pm To 5:00 pm
Speakers
Research Fellows
Noha El-Mikawy
Dean, School of Global Affairs and Public...
Speakers
Roberta V. Gatti
Chief Economist, Middle East and North Africa,...
Speakers
Hoda Assem
Economist (ETC), Office of the Chief Economist...
Speakers
Gianluca Mele
Lead Economist and Program Leader, Equitable Growth,...
Speakers
Federico Bennett
Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for...
Research Fellows
Ibrahim Elbadawi
Managing Director, Economic Research Forum
Research Fellows
Kamiar Mohaddes
Macroeconomist, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge