Dr. Ziad Daoud, MEI Senior Fellow and Chief Emerging Markets Economist for Bloomberg, leads a study group examining the political economy of an evolving Middle East.
Participants will examine the role that oil has played in shaping the region, and how petrodollars are recycled in the global economy, partly through giant sovereign wealth funds. The group will investigate the common problem facing most of the region – exporters as well as importers of energy. They will assess Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 diversification initiative, and how the Middle East is navigating rising US - China competition.
Participants will debate the future of oil prices, and the challenges and opportunities presented by a decarbonizing world. They will discuss the merit of universal income as a diversification proposal for the GCC and Iraq. They’ll also investigate why currency crises keep recurring in countries like Egypt.
The overall aim of this study group is for participants to gain a better understanding of the economic and political forces affecting the Middle East and its relation with the rest of the world.
Schedule
6 sessions will take place from 4:30pm - 6:00pm on the following dates over the fall semester:
Monday, September 30: What’s the role of the Middle East in the global economy? Energy, sovereign wealth funds, and petrodollars. (Location: B-500 Bell Hall)
Tuesday, October 8: Is there a theory of everything for the Middle East? (Location: B-400 Land Lecture Hall)
Monday, October 21: Is Saudi Vision 2030 working? How is the region navigating US-China competition? (R-306)
Monday, October 28: What’s the future of oil? A participants’ debate. (Location: B-500 Bell Hall)
Monday, November 4: Can universal income diversify the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Iraq? (Location: B-500 Bell Hall)
Monday, November 18: Why does Egypt fall into a currency crisis once a decade? (Location: B-500 Bell Hall)
Sign Up
All HUID-holders are welcome to attend the study group. Registration is required. For those that did not attend the first session on September 30, please register and/or contact Peter.
Main Point of Contact: Peter Reid (peterreid@hks.harvard.edu), Research Assistant to Dr. Ziad Daoud
Speakers and Presenters
Ziad Daoud, Senior Fellow, Middle East Initiative