Middle East Youth Initiative

“A New Beginning” in Action: My Experiences with US-Saudi Partnerships in Education and ...

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:00:00 GMT

Alaa Al-Mizyen is our Youth Ambassador from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She is currently a student at Dar Al-Hekma College where she is majoring in banking and finance.

The Paradox of Employment: The Reality Behind Youth Labor Market Statistics in Egypt and the ...

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:30:00 GMT

As Vice President Biden travels to the Middle East, Ragui Assaad and Samantha Constant analyze employment prospects for young people in both the United States and the Middle East, with a special focus on Egypt. Both the United States and Egypt face high levels of youth unemployment and, among those jobs that are available, deteriorating job quality.

Bringing Gaza Back From the Brink

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:30:00 GMT

US Special Envoy George Mitchell is in the Middle East to attempt to revive the Arab-Israeli peace process. Edward Sayre and Samantha Constant argue that, during his visit, Mitchell must attend to the dire economic and humantiarian situation in Gaza. Gaza’s well-educated youth are eager to work and establish a future like their counterparts in the West Bank, yet they continue to be sealed off from the global economy.

The Middle East and the New Global Economy: Exploring Green Models for Sustainable Growth

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The Middle East Youth Initiative speaks to Jad Chaaban about how the region's economies can begin to reorient toward new models based on sustainable growth. Recent booms and busts in commodity, real estate and credit markets have overshadowed the serious environmental and natural resource challenges facing the region.

The Middle East and the New Global Economy: Economic Recovery and a New Government in Lebanon

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:45:00 GMT

Tarik Yousef and the Middle East Youth Initiative speak with Jad Chaaban about recent economic and political developments in Lebanon, where Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri ended months of negotiations by announcing a new unity cabinet earlier this week. With impressive overall growth projected for 2009, Lebanon’s economy may emerge stronger from the global crisis if the new government can agree on needed reforms.

Iraq's Economy Needs More Than Security

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:15:00 GMT

Beyond achieving basic security, Raj Desai states other transitions are needed before U.S. businesses feel comfortable about the Iraqi investment climate. Desai offers three sets of fundamental reforms to convince investors that Iraq is really "open for business."

Iran Sanctions: Who Really Wins?

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:45:00 GMT

As Iran prepares to meet with the United States and five other international powers in Geneva, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani argues that, while the stakes are high, sanctions may still be the wrong choice. Existing sanctions have had no discernible effect on Iran's nuclear policy, and harsher sanctions may actually strengthen President Ahmadinejad's populist control of the economy.

The Middle East and the New Global Economy: Development and Diversification in Saudi Arabia

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:15:00 GMT

Saudi Arabia will join other Group of Twenty (G-20) nations this week to address the global economic recovery. In a discussion with the Middle East Youth Initiative, expert economist Hassan Hakimian explains that the government’s stimulus budget has helped to cushion the country from the worst effects of the recession. Yet, the long-term challenges of developing the non-oil, private sector and harnessing human capital remain.

The Middle East and the New Global Economy: Revisiting Egypt in the Wake of the Downturn

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:45:00 GMT

As leaders from the Group of Twenty (G-20) nations prepare to meet to take stock of the world’s economy, the Middle East finds itself increasingly influenced by global trends and policies. Tarik Yousef and Ragui Assaad discuss Egypt’s responses to the downturn and its future role in the global economy.

Youth Ambassador Think Tank: Sustainability - What Does It Mean for the Middle East?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:00:00 GMT

MEYI’s Youth Ambassador Think Tank is a forum to encourage active discussion on topics of timely relevance to Middle Eastern youth. Our sixth topic solicits perspectives on how sustainable development can be effectively pursued in the Middle East.

U.S.-Egyptian Relations: Time for a Renewal

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Earlier this week, Egyptian President Mubarak concluded his first visit to the United States since 2004. Amina Fahmy and Diana Greenwald note that, in order for the two countries to deepen their partnership, efforts to improve domestic realities in Egypt must complement the existing focus on regional security issues. Increased economic cooperation that goes beyond government-to-government ties can ensure that growth trickles down to Egypt's youth.

Political and Economic Woes Thwart Return to Normalcy in Iran

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Djavad Salehi-Isfahani speaks to Kai Ryssdal on National Public Radio's "Marketplace" about the economic issues underpinning the ongoing political crisis in Iran. Salehi-Isfahani also spoke to “Marketplace” on June 24, 2009 from Tehran.

Geithner and the New Middle East Economic Agenda

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:00:00 GMT

As U.S. Secretary Treasury Geithner concludes his first visit to the Middle East, Navtej Dhillon argues for a new agenda which links U.S. efforts to reduce its dependency on foreign oil to the Middle East’s challenge of building diversified economies which provide a better future for the region’s citizens.

After the Iranian Uprising

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:30:00 GMT

Looking past Iran's recent election crisis, growing trade and budget deficits will hamper Ahmadinejad's second term and his penchant for redistributionist policies, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani warns. While the administration will face pressure to continue expansionist policies, Salehi-Isfahani predicts that Iranians will pay the price through high inflation and low growth.

Iran's Economy: Trouble in Tehran

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Editor's Note: Djavad Salehi-Isfahani assesses Iran's recent economic performance in Foreign Policy magazine, arguing that the country’s policymakers have amassed a mixed record. While government spending in the past year was based on safe estimates of oil prices, high levels of social spending will be hard to maintain and the private sector will struggle to revive the Iranian economy in 2009. This was originally published under the title "Trouble in Tehran".