A continuation of the Alexandria declaration 2004   Secondly: Economic Reform   17- Economic reform includes all legislation, policies, and measures that would free the national economy and turn it efficiently in accordance with market mechanisms. This would be done in a manner that would ensure economic prosperity and facilitate integration with regional and global economies   ... [read more]

For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of the so-called "economic reform" process based on structural adjustment on the middle class in Jordan has been conducted. The study conducted by Dr. Ibrahim Saif and Yasmin Tabba'a aims to explore the effects of structural adjustment and economic reform in Jordan through the lens of income distribution. The main objective of the paper is... [read more]

Jordan Business Magazine is yet aiming to identify the 30 most influential people in Jordan (apart from the Royal Family) and for this purpose have designed a good voting system. The results should apear in the July edition. Here is my own list of the most influential 30 persons. The list should be divided by three categories, with 10 names in each. In my humble opinion, the second category of... [read more]

Despite the great importance attached by the Jordanian society to education, which is reflected by the willingness of Jordanian families to spend a large proportion of its budget on education of sons and daughters in universities, the recent transformations in the Jordanian economy have made education a minor element in the process of wealth creation in Jordan.    It is true that education still... [read more]

Bloggers are becoming a source of information for international reporters, journalists and even academic researchers on the issues of the Middle East. This blog has attracted some journalists to send me e-mails, talk over the phone and in person about contemporary issues in Jordan. I became very disappointed to realize that the two major issues about Jordan in which foreign reporters are obsessed... [read more]

This is an article published by Carnegie Endowment's Arab Political Reform Bulletin.    Recent labor protests and bread lines in Egypt—in which the army was called in to organize distribution and restore order—present a stark contrast to the Egyptian government’s narrative of impressive economic growth, which international financial institutions have validated. Jordan has not experienced serious... [read more]

The financial committee of the lower house of Parliament is still discussing the three year public budget (2008-2010). In a report published in Arabic language Jordanian newspapers on Tuesday, the Committee is said to have asked to government to reduce public expenditures by 15% to combat deficit. This is a reasonable action, provided that the reduction should be in running expenditures (salaries,... [read more]

This is really depressing for me to know. In the IT news Microsoft is to pay $240m for a 1.6 per cent stake in Facebook. The deal values the social networking site at $15bn. Microsoft will act as the exclusive third-party advertising platform for Facebook with the companies splitting the revenue generated. Prior to the deal Microsoft sold banner ads for the website in the US but this is to be extended... [read more]

One of the best features in blogs is the fact that a blogger/writer is put face to face in an interactive exchange of ideas and positions with readers. I enjoyed the majority of the debates that my blog has energised with my readers. However, I was always intrigued why should some of the readers call me a "neoliberal"? I have tried to visit back all the definitions I know about neoliberalism and never... [read more]

In the era of neo-liberal economic analysis and decision-making in Jordan, supported by many "economic analysts" writing in newspapers and leading our economy it is really refreshing to see articles written by prominant economists with a social heart focusing on social and environmental dimensions of economic policies. I think the most active and convincing economic analyst in Jordan is Dr. Yusuf... [read more]

Jordan Business magazine has published its list of the most influential 30 Jordanians for the second year running. Last year the selection was based on the magazine's informed judgemens and it was convincing. This year however, the magazine opted to give the choice to its readers through an online vote. The results provides another evidence how voting can sometimes be irrational. The magazine received... [read more]

To the dismay of some readers of this blog Jordan is not a failed state. According to the Foreign Policy Index of failed States, published for the third year in the well respected American magazine "Foreign Policy" Jordan does not rank among the 60 failed states of the world which includes seven Arab countries, topped by Sudan.   The Index was developed by the Fund for Peace an independent research... [read more]

Jordan Business magazine has asked its readers to nominate their candidates for the Jordan power 30 issue to be published in July 2007. Maybe it is only few days but it is worth nominating now. Last year the magazine made its own intelligent judgement nomination which was met with some critical feedback. You can nominate here http://www.jordan-business.net/power30/   [read more]

This is an interesting article from Oxford Business Group reflecting on the growing momentum of growth in Jordanian transport system. I wish at least half these expectations will be met.   Hot on the heels of the selection of the consortium to build and operate the expanded Queen Alia International Airport, the ministry of transport announced on May 23 that it intends to develop a national rail... [read more]

Jordanians love advertisements. This is a fact that can be seen even by our "political projects". Remember when "Jordan First" ended as an advertisement campaign and was reduced to no more than stickers on the windows of cars? One of the most consumptive societies is being born in Jordan with advertisements leading the way. Advertisements make people covet what they do not really need. It gives... [read more]

I have to say that I felt satisfied to read that the Jordanian pharmaceutical firm Al Hikma has manage dto buy the german oncology firm Ribosepharm GmbH from Ratiopharm GmbH for 45 million dollars. Of course I have no personal gains in this deal but it is a good rare example of the competitiveness of some Jordanian firms. Al Hikma is the biggest pharmaceutical Co. in Jordan and its ability to provide... [read more]

The Oxford Business Group has published its annual review of Jordan's economy in 2006. The summarised review goes as follows.   2006 was marked by major developments in Jordan, with key advances in the economy, especially in terms of attracting foreign investment, partly offset by the pressures applied by high fuel prices and the need to cut state expenditure. Jordan finished the year with... [read more]

This is a very important article by the Jordanian economic expert Dr Yousuf Mansour that explains why the government does actually profit from selling fuel in Jordan. This will make a lot of us see the truth in a crystalized way. Dr Mansour is a social-friendly economist and I urge you to monitor his weekly column in the Jordan Times.   Fuel and taxes Yusuf Mansur Jordan’s fuel policy leaves... [read more]

Last week I was in Cairo to participate in a regional workshop on the impacts of the Free Trade Agreements and WTO agreements on development in the Arab World. The workshop was very useful and gathered a lot of regional and global experts including the well-known Third World Network that is specialised in advocating for fair and development-based economic activities in the developing world and exposing... [read more]

This is a question that each one of us is asking while watching the massive boom in the real estate business including investments in new residential and tourism complexes as well as the bargaining and financial flows in real estates. Does this remarkable flow of money lead to development in terms of fighting poverty and unemployment? I think in principle any economic activity can lead to development... [read more]