Our research topic is about the economic situation in the Middle East and North Africa （MENA） oil exporters after the global crisis in 2008. The authors tried to find the answers to the questions such as ＂How bad o...Our research topic is about the economic situation in the Middle East and North Africa （MENA） oil exporters after the global crisis in 2008. The authors tried to find the answers to the questions such as ＂How bad or good is the situation there？＂ and ＂what is the expectation about the future of the region？＂ Like other countries around the world, the MENA oil exporters, comprised of Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen were adversely affected by the global crisis. The MENA oil exporters are recently recovering from their recession in 2009 when the global crisis was felt intensively there. GDP in the region has grown by 3.5 percent in 2010 after a low growth of 0.7 percent in 2009. The average real GDP growth excluding Libya is projected to reach 4.9 percent in 2011. Two developments mark the outlook： the unrest in the region and the surge in global fuel and food prices. For most oil exporters, the expected increase in oil prices and production volumes will lead to higher growth in 2011 and stronger fiscal and external balances, notwithstanding recent increases in government spending. The oil exporters＇ combined external current account surplus is estimated to increase. The effects of the political events in Tunisia and Egypt have spread in varying degrees to the MENA oil exporters in the region, and many of these countries are responding with public spending and job-creation measures to alleviate social tensions. The social unrest also highlights the need to pursue fundamental economic reforms--social policy, fiscal management, governance, business environment, labor markets, and financial sector access to facilitate more inclusive economic growth. While the MENA countries are generally divided into two sub-regions such as ＂oil exporters＂ and ＂oil importers＂ in the economic literature, the authors will deal with only the MENA oil exporters in this work. The negative effects of the global crisis in these countries on growth, inflation, current account balance, budget balance, and finally financial sector will be reviewed in this work and the expectations and the developments which occurred after the crisis in these countries will be dealt with especially in the context of the IMF reports.展开更多
The Middle Eastern and North African （MENA） region has the potential to rise if it puts the recent changes to good use. Political changes in some countries might have opened the way for liberalization, which in turn...The Middle Eastern and North African （MENA） region has the potential to rise if it puts the recent changes to good use. Political changes in some countries might have opened the way for liberalization, which in turn again might facilitate democratization. Both will benefit the economic development of the region. So far, economic growth is hindered by excessive and ineffective public sectors, which do not provide sufficient opportunities for the growing young population. Privatization of some services and a general liberalization of the markets might help bring the young workforce into employment and in the long run will fuel an economic upswing.展开更多
We investigated the performance of 12 different physics configurations of the climate version of the Weather, Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model over the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) domain. Possible combinat...We investigated the performance of 12 different physics configurations of the climate version of the Weather, Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model over the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) domain. Possible combinations among two Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL), three Cumulus (CUM) and two Microphysics (MIC) schemes were tested. The 2-year simulations (December 1988-November 1990) have been compared with gridded observational data and station measurements for several variables, including total precipitation and maximum and minimum 2-meter air temperature. An objective ranking method of the 12 different simulations and the selection procedure of the best performing configuration for the MENA domain are based on several statistical metrics and carried out for relevant sub-domains and individual stations. The setup for cloud microphysics is found to have the strongest impact on temperature biases while precipitation is most sensitive to the cumulus parameterization scheme and mainly in the tropics.展开更多
Contamination of surface and underground water by sea level rise, surface runoff, and land use activities such as industrial and agricultural activities can lead to water scarcity. Water could be available and accessi...Contamination of surface and underground water by sea level rise, surface runoff, and land use activities such as industrial and agricultural activities can lead to water scarcity. Water could be available and accessible but not suitable for human use. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region countries, the agriculture sector depends massively on water for farming activities, which consumes about 80% of the available water resources. In this context, the issue of environmental water scarcity is under highlighted, though the use of this term itself is still lacking in an international context (FAO). Meanwhile, the international goal of universal access to clean freshwater is included in global development targets (SDGs). This study provides some insights and deepens our understanding on environmental water scarcity, particularly MEN-A region countries. This review paper begins with an introduction to water scarcity and continues with a discussion of environmental issues associated with water scarcity in MENA region countries. Finally, we suggest some adaptive measures in two distinct areas such as agriculture sectors and policy makers and conclude that the lack of implementation of this particular term is hindering sustainable development in MENA region countries.展开更多
The chronic water shortage in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region is a perplexing issue, undoubtedly because various operational sectors, multi-institutions and stakeholders are inextricably interconnected. In ...The chronic water shortage in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region is a perplexing issue, undoubtedly because various operational sectors, multi-institutions and stakeholders are inextricably interconnected. In the light of climate variability and the unprecedented population growth rate, the per capita water resources and biocapacity will continue plummeting, and the demand-gap will seriously expand. Existing water quantification agreements have been deemed inefficient to solve the problem of naturally diminishing water resources and thus require immediate re-assembling. Most scholarly endeavors, including key international organizations, NGOs, and “Think Tank” policy briefs have limitedly addressed water shortage in contexts of regional politics, mass media, and, importantly, from social psychology perspectives. Therefore, a thorough analysis and interdisciplinary approach is required to find a feasible and suitable framework of solutions and from a multi-perspective podium. A synthesis of cross-sectorial bottlenecks that are crucial to water management is presented, and a suite of practical recommendations are introduced to water authorities and governments. This study argues that in the shadow of the region’s political instability, the clash of ideologies and its repercussions, and issues of national security and sovereignty, regional cooperation on water issues remain prognostications. In this essence, governments of MENA countries are urged to develop measures to substantially increase the water supply through innovative approaches. Such measures include enhancing the capacities of water harvesting, maximizing the storage capacities of the built dams, and deploying groundwater recharge techniques. Furthermore, seawater and brackish water desalination through clean energy technologies is a contemporary solution with socio-economic and multiple benefits. Multi-billion water projects might not be suitable approach in the absence of external funding and the aforementioned hurdles. Further research is required to address the social economics, and environmental aspects of desalination and the socio-economic feasibility of privatizing drinking water utilities and price polarization.展开更多
Middle East and North Africa （MENA） has been experiencing a unique demographic transition in the world especially after September 11, whilst, its social, political and economic structures have considerably remained ...Middle East and North Africa （MENA） has been experiencing a unique demographic transition in the world especially after September 11, whilst, its social, political and economic structures have considerably remained inflexible and can hardly meet the increasing demands of employment among the youth whose expectations are raised through expansion in education. In spite of various common causes for the Arab uprisings, the paper spotlights the ＂Youth role＂ and its regarded issues of ＂Youth Bulge＂, ＂Education＂ and ＂Unemployment＂ with a glimpse to the overturned regimes of ＂Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen＂. According to published statistics these countries are among the countries with the highest rate of youth as working age population in MENA. Therefore, the paper is to present the importance and impact of youth as a social parameter in challenging political structure of the countries in the MENA and leading to topple their political systems. Thus, the paper reasons the MENA political upheavals, in general, and the mentioned countries＇ uprisings, in particular, can not be well understood disregarding to natural tensions between economic, population structures, and political demographic challenges. This is to be done drawing on data from different international institutions. The intervened variables such as ＂ethnicity, race, religion and sexuality＂ and international parameters have not been considered.展开更多
The political upheavals in the Arab world during 2011 challenged the political status quo and have irrevocably paved the way toward transformation in the Middle East and North Africa （MENA）, The longstanding structu...The political upheavals in the Arab world during 2011 challenged the political status quo and have irrevocably paved the way toward transformation in the Middle East and North Africa （MENA）, The longstanding structural impediments to equitable growth and social justice afflicting the Arab world came to a head through a combination of persistently poverty, high unemployment, particularly among educated youth, rampant corruption, deficit of democratic governance, and essential freedoms. Yemen is the third country of the Middle Eastern countries which turmoil sparked in. All the uprisings connote of social, political and economic discontent and frustration. The main question and issue of this paper is to answer： What conditions breed change to Yemen？ The paper spotlights ＂relative deprivation＂ of Ted Robert Gurr as the most relevant theory to illustrate roots of the Yemen uprising. Relative deprivation theory holds that instead of an absolute standard deprivation, a gap between expectations and reality leads men to political violence. Therefore, this study is to utilize relative deprivation theory to explain how socio-economic shortages （such as high unemployment and education, along with poverty） and political inefficiencies of the Yemen＇s authoritarian regime led to public and collective discontent and upheaval. The intervened variables such as ＂ethnicity, race, religion, and sexuality＂ and international parameters have not been considered,展开更多
文摘Our research topic is about the economic situation in the Middle East and North Africa （MENA） oil exporters after the global crisis in 2008. The authors tried to find the answers to the questions such as ＂How bad or good is the situation there？＂ and ＂what is the expectation about the future of the region？＂ Like other countries around the world, the MENA oil exporters, comprised of Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen were adversely affected by the global crisis. The MENA oil exporters are recently recovering from their recession in 2009 when the global crisis was felt intensively there. GDP in the region has grown by 3.5 percent in 2010 after a low growth of 0.7 percent in 2009. The average real GDP growth excluding Libya is projected to reach 4.9 percent in 2011. Two developments mark the outlook： the unrest in the region and the surge in global fuel and food prices. For most oil exporters, the expected increase in oil prices and production volumes will lead to higher growth in 2011 and stronger fiscal and external balances, notwithstanding recent increases in government spending. The oil exporters＇ combined external current account surplus is estimated to increase. The effects of the political events in Tunisia and Egypt have spread in varying degrees to the MENA oil exporters in the region, and many of these countries are responding with public spending and job-creation measures to alleviate social tensions. The social unrest also highlights the need to pursue fundamental economic reforms--social policy, fiscal management, governance, business environment, labor markets, and financial sector access to facilitate more inclusive economic growth. While the MENA countries are generally divided into two sub-regions such as ＂oil exporters＂ and ＂oil importers＂ in the economic literature, the authors will deal with only the MENA oil exporters in this work. The negative effects of the global crisis in these countries on growth, inflation, current account balance, budget balance, and finally financial sector will be reviewed in this work and the expectations and the developments which occurred after the crisis in these countries will be dealt with especially in the context of the IMF reports.
文摘The Middle Eastern and North African （MENA） region has the potential to rise if it puts the recent changes to good use. Political changes in some countries might have opened the way for liberalization, which in turn again might facilitate democratization. Both will benefit the economic development of the region. So far, economic growth is hindered by excessive and ineffective public sectors, which do not provide sufficient opportunities for the growing young population. Privatization of some services and a general liberalization of the markets might help bring the young workforce into employment and in the long run will fuel an economic upswing.
文摘We investigated the performance of 12 different physics configurations of the climate version of the Weather, Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model over the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) domain. Possible combinations among two Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL), three Cumulus (CUM) and two Microphysics (MIC) schemes were tested. The 2-year simulations (December 1988-November 1990) have been compared with gridded observational data and station measurements for several variables, including total precipitation and maximum and minimum 2-meter air temperature. An objective ranking method of the 12 different simulations and the selection procedure of the best performing configuration for the MENA domain are based on several statistical metrics and carried out for relevant sub-domains and individual stations. The setup for cloud microphysics is found to have the strongest impact on temperature biases while precipitation is most sensitive to the cumulus parameterization scheme and mainly in the tropics.
文摘Contamination of surface and underground water by sea level rise, surface runoff, and land use activities such as industrial and agricultural activities can lead to water scarcity. Water could be available and accessible but not suitable for human use. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region countries, the agriculture sector depends massively on water for farming activities, which consumes about 80% of the available water resources. In this context, the issue of environmental water scarcity is under highlighted, though the use of this term itself is still lacking in an international context (FAO). Meanwhile, the international goal of universal access to clean freshwater is included in global development targets (SDGs). This study provides some insights and deepens our understanding on environmental water scarcity, particularly MEN-A region countries. This review paper begins with an introduction to water scarcity and continues with a discussion of environmental issues associated with water scarcity in MENA region countries. Finally, we suggest some adaptive measures in two distinct areas such as agriculture sectors and policy makers and conclude that the lack of implementation of this particular term is hindering sustainable development in MENA region countries.
文摘The chronic water shortage in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region is a perplexing issue, undoubtedly because various operational sectors, multi-institutions and stakeholders are inextricably interconnected. In the light of climate variability and the unprecedented population growth rate, the per capita water resources and biocapacity will continue plummeting, and the demand-gap will seriously expand. Existing water quantification agreements have been deemed inefficient to solve the problem of naturally diminishing water resources and thus require immediate re-assembling. Most scholarly endeavors, including key international organizations, NGOs, and “Think Tank” policy briefs have limitedly addressed water shortage in contexts of regional politics, mass media, and, importantly, from social psychology perspectives. Therefore, a thorough analysis and interdisciplinary approach is required to find a feasible and suitable framework of solutions and from a multi-perspective podium. A synthesis of cross-sectorial bottlenecks that are crucial to water management is presented, and a suite of practical recommendations are introduced to water authorities and governments. This study argues that in the shadow of the region’s political instability, the clash of ideologies and its repercussions, and issues of national security and sovereignty, regional cooperation on water issues remain prognostications. In this essence, governments of MENA countries are urged to develop measures to substantially increase the water supply through innovative approaches. Such measures include enhancing the capacities of water harvesting, maximizing the storage capacities of the built dams, and deploying groundwater recharge techniques. Furthermore, seawater and brackish water desalination through clean energy technologies is a contemporary solution with socio-economic and multiple benefits. Multi-billion water projects might not be suitable approach in the absence of external funding and the aforementioned hurdles. Further research is required to address the social economics, and environmental aspects of desalination and the socio-economic feasibility of privatizing drinking water utilities and price polarization.
文摘Middle East and North Africa （MENA） has been experiencing a unique demographic transition in the world especially after September 11, whilst, its social, political and economic structures have considerably remained inflexible and can hardly meet the increasing demands of employment among the youth whose expectations are raised through expansion in education. In spite of various common causes for the Arab uprisings, the paper spotlights the ＂Youth role＂ and its regarded issues of ＂Youth Bulge＂, ＂Education＂ and ＂Unemployment＂ with a glimpse to the overturned regimes of ＂Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen＂. According to published statistics these countries are among the countries with the highest rate of youth as working age population in MENA. Therefore, the paper is to present the importance and impact of youth as a social parameter in challenging political structure of the countries in the MENA and leading to topple their political systems. Thus, the paper reasons the MENA political upheavals, in general, and the mentioned countries＇ uprisings, in particular, can not be well understood disregarding to natural tensions between economic, population structures, and political demographic challenges. This is to be done drawing on data from different international institutions. The intervened variables such as ＂ethnicity, race, religion and sexuality＂ and international parameters have not been considered.
文摘The political upheavals in the Arab world during 2011 challenged the political status quo and have irrevocably paved the way toward transformation in the Middle East and North Africa （MENA）, The longstanding structural impediments to equitable growth and social justice afflicting the Arab world came to a head through a combination of persistently poverty, high unemployment, particularly among educated youth, rampant corruption, deficit of democratic governance, and essential freedoms. Yemen is the third country of the Middle Eastern countries which turmoil sparked in. All the uprisings connote of social, political and economic discontent and frustration. The main question and issue of this paper is to answer： What conditions breed change to Yemen？ The paper spotlights ＂relative deprivation＂ of Ted Robert Gurr as the most relevant theory to illustrate roots of the Yemen uprising. Relative deprivation theory holds that instead of an absolute standard deprivation, a gap between expectations and reality leads men to political violence. Therefore, this study is to utilize relative deprivation theory to explain how socio-economic shortages （such as high unemployment and education, along with poverty） and political inefficiencies of the Yemen＇s authoritarian regime led to public and collective discontent and upheaval. The intervened variables such as ＂ethnicity, race, religion, and sexuality＂ and international parameters have not been considered,
