Turkey lifts veil on unemployment data, revealing bigger army of jobless A new, broader set of labor statistics has exposed a big gap between Turkey’s official unemployment rate and the actual joblessness in the crisis-hit country. Turkey
Rights group criticizes Jordan over debt imprisonment Human Rights Watch has highlighted the plight of poor Jordanians imprisoned for failing to pay back loans taken out to meet basic needs. Jordan
COVID accelerates evolution of Gulf economies The economic policy response to COVID-19 is an acceleration of specific trends already underway across the Gulf Cooperation Council members, variously affecting tax policy, labor market regulation and immigration policy. Saudi Arabia
Iran receives COVID-19 vaccine from Cuba Iran enjoys warm relations with the Latin American state and the two countries are also developing a coronavirus vaccine together. Iran
Was Rouhani's zero-inflation claim misleading? Both economists and political rivals question President Hassan Rouhani's claim of zero inflation, saying he used the wrong criteria. Iran
Iraq's corruption continues unchecked Corruption involving public contracts has become prevalent in Iraq since 2003 and is difficult to stop because government officials are benefitting from it. Iraq
The new generation of Israeli election campaign clips The advent of social media has changed the face of election campaigning, with productions in TV studios giving way to video clips, delivering their message in the absence of regulation or supervision. Israel
Gaza farmers unable to export produce Agriculture in Gaza is suffering after the Israeli decision to ban vegetable exports from the Strip to the West Bank. Palestine
Egypt hopes to lure investors back The Egyptian government is considering a new law to help ease the obstacles investors face and attract future investments. Egypt
PA considers ending economic ties with Israel Palestinians are discussing the possibility of rejecting the Paris Protocol and disengaging economically from Israel following Israel's decision to withhold tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority. Palestine
Gazans forced to sell their belongings The harsh economic crisis that has been worsening in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli blockade and the PA’s financial deficit has forced Gazans to sell their belongings to avoid begging for money. Palestine
Iran's job seekers lack practical skills While many young Iranians are now college graduates, many lack the technical and practical work experience to land a job. Iran
Gulf states to cut aid to Egypt The Egyptian government hopes the Egypt Economic Development Conference will succeed in attracting new investments given an expected drop in aid from the Gulf. Gulf
Billion dollar smuggling industry drains Iran's economy Partly due to sanctions, smuggling of drugs, cigarettes and cosmetics is widespread in Iran and some question whether government organizations are implicated. Iran
Palestinian government allows entry of Israeli goods into Gaza The Palestinian government has said that the decision is a temporary measure made necessary by the destruction to factories during the last Gaza war. Palestine
Knockoff drugs endanger Egyptians Counterfeit medications have become a common problem in Egypt, which has no central drug commission or strong laws penalizing their production and sale. Egypt
