Studies

The COVID-19 outbreak hit an unprepared world in February 2020. The pandemic shined a spotlight on the deficiencies of healthcare systems. In response, governments initiated a variety of containment measures, thereby affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of citizens.

The objectives of this study are to analyse the evolution of the pandemic during 2021 and the adopted policy measures, investigate the resilience of the healthcare sectors in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia (referred to as the target countries) and the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigate the socioeconomic consequences of this shock.

This study was authored by EMEA President Prof. Rym Ayadi and EMEA researchers Dr. Yeganeh Forouheshfar and Sara Ronco and it was published by the Regional Program Political Dialogue South Mediterranean of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS PolDiMed).  The study was conducted by KAS PolDiMed in collaboration with the Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA).

Event video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–CE-6hXAbA

Financial inclusion (FI) has been high on the agenda of international institutions, regulators and policymakers for a number of years and remains a priority. This is mainly due to its well documented positive impact in fostering sustainable social and economic development. However, developing economies, particularly countries in the South and East Mediterranean, are still lagging behind in terms of FI, both on individual and business levels. Additionally, the region exhibits a significant gender gap, urban-rural gap, and a low level of access to financial services for young people.

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the state of FI in five countries in the South and East Mediterranean: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. The analysis is based on a survey conducted by the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Economic Studies (EMNES) researchers using interviews, literature research and secondary data. The main aim is to investigate the salient features of FI, the barriers to achieving FI, and the regulatory framework and policies used to promote FI in each country.

The research team is led by Prof. Rym Ayadi, President, EMEA and Director, EMNES. It includes Sandra Challita, research fellow , EMEA and researcher, EMNES and Mais Shaban research fellow at EMEA and EMNES. Country contributions were provided from EMNES researchers: Alia El Mahdi, Taghreed Hassouba, Egypt, Nooh Alshyab, Serena Sandri, Dima Daradkeh, Jordan , Sandra Challita, Lebanon, Najat El Mekkaoui, Yeganeh Forouheshfar, Sara Loukili, Morocco, Olfa Benouda, Soumaya Ben Khelifa, Dorra Hmaied, Rania Makni, Tunisia.

Read the webinar report

The study aims to provide a quantified projection of the Blue Transition scenario (the study published by EMEA in 2020) using a CGE (computable general equilibrium) model (GEM-E3-MENA) that is calibrated to the latest available data. The model-based analysis aims at providing a consistent projection of the energy and economic systems for the Euro-Mediterranean (EU-MED) countries within the Blue Transition narrative.

The analysis takes into account the capacity constraints and the comparative advantages for growth of each country. The key contribution of the model, used for this study, lies in its capacity to combine the different set of assumptions regarding: technical progress; population growth; bilateral trade; development of skilled labour; climate-change and energy related policies, in an integrated manner that ensures the consistency of the socio-economic projection. An important result of the analysis is the decomposition of growth into specific factors and sectors for each country.

About the Authors: Ioannis Charalampidis (Researcher), Panagiotis Karkatsoulis (Researcher) and Leonidas Paroussos (Managing Director) at E3MLab, Associate member of EMNES. The study is reviewed by Prof. Rym Ayadi President of EMEA and Director of EMNES and Carlo Sessa is Member of the Executive Board of EMEA and Associate Member of EMNES.