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…
Renewed work on a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system marks a positive development for Jordan, promising improved connectivity in and around the capital city. Jordan’s burgeoning and rapidly urbanizing population, estimated at nearly 7 million and expected to reach 8.5…
Whatever the government unveils in next year’s budget, policy makers should produce an economic blueprint that balances realism with ambition. By Khalid W. Wazani The government is due to unveil the details of its 2016 budget next month. The experience…
Europe’s refugee crisis shouldn’t blind the international community to the heavy economic toll the Syrian conflict is having on Jordan. By Khalid W. Wazani Two years ago, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation joined forces with the United Nations…
Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers is expected to create a raft of trade and investment opportunities for Dubai, which is widely seen as Tehran’s stepping stone to global markets. Iran’s nuclear deal, announced on July 14, allows Tehran to…
Even though the statistics show Jordanians are snapping up millions of dollars worth of Dubai real estate, it doesn’t mean cash is flooding out of Jordan to do so. By Jawad J. Abbassi Dubai’s property market has rebounded well from…
If we’re really serious about improving our economy over the long-term, many more women will have to join the workforce. By Khalid W. Wazani Although Jordan’s population is almost equally divided between males and females, women are substantially underrepresented in…
With the recent issuance of a 4G license to Umniah, the battle for market share amongst Jordan’s big three mobile operators is set to get livelier than ever. Increased competition should prove a boon for consumers in terms faster Internet…
The rights enshrined in Jordan’s labor and social security laws don’t apply to agricultural laborers. This aberration harms the sector and the country’s wider economy. By Jawad J. Abbassi Unskilled agricultural workers in Jordan have very few rights. The Labor…
As the government has learned from its deal with the IMF, ill-conceived economic reforms can often do more harm than good. By Khalid Wazani Economic reform is a process that should be evolutionary not revolutionary, gradual not instantaneous, comprehensive not…