The Future of Economic Development

Tarik Yousef – August 13, 2020

Session summary

In this discussion, Dr. Tarik Yousef talks about the effects of COVID-19 on the economy and political system in the MENA region, predicting that this will be a historic demarcation line based on studies of past historical events.

In his assessment, the pandemic will likely produce currents of instability, degradation in livelihood and in many countries, rising inequality, growing unemployment, higher poverty rates, stress on country systems, or resource depletion. He predicts that in the year 2021, social protest movements will resurface. The magnitude of what will be demanded and experienced may finally bring about the kind of change that will be required to address long-standing social-economic development and political failures across many parts of the Middle East. The way it plays out will vary depending on the demands of the protesters in each country.

He cautions that people should look at the structural problems in the economies and the political systems that deal with corruption and inequality.

These should become part of the public debate about how governments try to reorganize and limit themselves, or even completely restructure their engagement modalities and methods.

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tarik yousef

Listen to session

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