Recalibrating the Economy
Given Jordan has a well-educated labor force, why is its GDP so low, why does it struggle to add economic value, and why does it have a chronic trade deficit? By Laith al Qassem Typically, the higher the level of…
Tag: parliament
Is Britian Worse off with Brexit?
Britain’s exit from the European Union has been a tale of two halves. A satisfactory economic performance following the shock referendum result have gradually given way to a slowdown. The uncertainty of the UK’s future both economically and politically does…
The Economy in 2017
Jordan’s Finance Minister, Omar Malhas, says the country will have to make some tough economic choices in 2017. By Dina Al Wakeel Jordan’s public debt now stands at almost 95 percent of GDP, and unemployment is running at around 16…
Brand New Parliament, Same Old Challenges
When they’re sworn in later this month, Jordan’s newly-elected parliamentarians will face the same economic problems that bedeviled their predecessors. By Khalid W. Wazani By the end of this month a new parliament will be starting a new chapter in…
A Statesman Speaks
Marwan Muasher isn’t waiting for change to be instigated from the top. He’s building a constituency on the ground that will push for it. By Abdul-Wahab Kayyali To Jordanians of all stripes, Marwan Muasher hardly needs an introduction. The former…
Budget 2016: The Numbers Don’t Add Up
The forecasts contained within the government’s recently-unveiled 2016 budget bill fail to convince. By Khalid W. Wazani The government has yet again built a budget based on unrealistic assumptions. In 2016, the government expects a real growth rate of 3.7…
Easing Investment in Iraq
Momentum seems to be building behind Khaled Kanaan’s ambitious plan to break down barriers of entry into Iraq to promote greater cross-border trade, investment, and cooperation. But the prominent Jordanian businessman admitted that convincing more of his peers to bet…
OBG on Subsidy Cuts: Light at the End of the Tunnel?
They’ve been painful, but there are signs subsidy cuts may have started to bear fruit. The Jordanian government’s decision in 2012 to begin a phased withdrawal of electricity subsidies was undoubtedly a good one from the point of view of…
Tackling our Pension Problem
Standing at the same amount as the budget deficit, Jordan’s bankrupt public pension system is funded solely by new debt. Rationally reducing its burden should be of prime importance. By Jawad J. Abbassi At the parliamentary discussions of the government…
Mubadarah: The Politics of the Possible
After successfully pressuring the government to grant civil rights to the children of Jordanian women married to foreigners, MP Mustafa Hamarneh’s Mubadarah legislative bloc is out to prove that parliament isn’t an ineffectual talking shop. By Abdul-Wahab Kayyali and Dina…