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
Is Iranian Hyperinflation a Mirage? Djavad Salehi-Isfahani suggests that the conventional wisdom of so-called Iranian hyperinflation caused by crippling Western sanctions deserves a closer look, as there is lack of connection between devaluation, printing of money and inflation in Iran. Guessing wrong on the impact of sanctions can be costly for US policy. Iran
Turkey Seeks 'Interdependence' With Iraqi Kurdistan Turkish officials seek to set the record straight that Ankara seeks interdependence with, not independence for, Iraqi Kurdistan, writes Tulin Daloglu. Iraq
Iraqi Government Seeks Control Over Central Bank Some speculate that the deputy governor of Iraq’s central bank’s arrest for embezzlement is an attempt by the government to expand its control of the financial body, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Sectarian Politics Contribute To Mismanaged Economy Sectarian politics has limited Iraq's ability to benefit from qualified economists and financial specialists in top government positions, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqis Divided Over Iranian Car Ban The recent ban on Iranian car imports is expected to increase the price of automobiles in Iraq, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Questions About Practices Of Private Iraqi Banks Iraq's private banks rarely engage in traditional banking activities such as offering loans and credit and have lost the trust of the Iraqi people, writes Omar Al-Shaher. Iraq
EU Trade Sustains Israeli Settlements in West Bank Despite the EU's outspoken criticism of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, imports from settlements are actually entrenching their existence, Dalia Hatuqa reports from the West Bank. Palestine
Iraqi Border Closures Affect Commerce in Sunni Regions Iraq's decision to close border crossings in Sunni regions bordering Syria may be primarily for security, but it is also taking an economic toll, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Seeks Independence in Oil Exports Omar al-Shaher reports on the Kurdistan Region's decision to export oil through Turkey as escalating tensions between Baghdad and Erbil. Iraq
Bank of Israel Governor Calls for Higher Taxes The governor of the Bank of Israel, Stanley Fischer, concerned over a possible fiscal cliff, urges the next government to do the right decision: raise taxes, despite the heavy political price, writes Idan Gribaum. Israel
Saudi Execution of Sri Lankan Maid Exposes Vulnerability of Foreign Workers The execution of a Sri Lankan maid, who was charged as a minor with killing a 4-month-old Saudi baby, has drawn attention to the plight of foreign workers in the kingdom, reports Caryle Murphy. Saudi Arabia
Five Million State Employees Drag Down Iraqi Economy Omar al-Shaher writes that five million state employees receive inflated salaries and do little or no work, costing the state $83 billion and creating a drag on the Iraqi economy. Iraq
