Archive for the 'Economics' Category

Creating a New Syria: Property, Dispossession, and Regime Survival — by Erwin van Veen

Posted by Matthew Barber on Sunday, April 15th, 2018

Peak Fragility: Why The Middle East Is Doomed — by Ehsani

Posted by Matthew Barber on Tuesday, April 10th, 2018

The Ten Most Important Developments in Syria in 2015

Posted by Aron Lund on Sunday, January 3rd, 2016

“Bilal” – by Stephen Boeshaar

Posted by Matthew Barber on Tuesday, June 17th, 2014

Recapitalising the Syrian Banking System: Costs and Challenges

Posted by Matthew Barber on Monday, November 11th, 2013

The Effect of the Conflict on Syrian Banking and Economy

Posted by Matthew Barber on Friday, June 28th, 2013

Drones, A New Alawite Opposition, Obama in Israel

Posted by Matthew Barber on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013

Syrian Pound at 90 per Dollar as Government Intervenes

Posted by Joshua on Friday, March 9th, 2012

The Import Suspension Decision Was Indeed “Temporary” – (By Ehsani)

Posted by Ehsani on Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Syria Faces A New Economic Reality – By Ehsani

Posted by Ehsani on Monday, September 26th, 2011

More Economic Pressure. Assad Will be Ousted “Sooner or Later”? Sarkozy asks why the Region’s Christians Don’t Emigrate? The Six Killer Apps (By Ehsani)

Posted by Ehsani on Saturday, September 24th, 2011

Suspending New Car Imports into Syria (By Ehsani)

Posted by Ehsani on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Ehsani on Syria Comment over the Years

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, September 4th, 2011

Economic News Roundup (26 July 2011)

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Economic News and More (13 July 2011)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

“Syria’s Leadership and Opposition Need an Economic Policy,” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

“The squeeze on Assad,” by the Economist

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Syria’s Business Elite – Will it Defect?

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Syria Turns to Iraq to Preempt Damaging European Heavy Crude Boycott

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Stalemate Prevails as Gov and Opposition Look for New Strategies; Pressure on the SYP

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

What is new on the Economy (24 June 2011): Oil Sanctions

Posted by Joshua on Friday, June 24th, 2011

Rami Makhlouf: Is He Being Sacrificed? Is the Syrian Economy the Achilles Heel of the Assad Regime? WINEP Pushes for Sanctions on Syrian Oil

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 16th, 2011

Damascenes Rally for the Government Even as Economy Enters Crisis Mode and Touble in the North Expands

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 16th, 2011

EU Lays Off Syrians and Stops all Aid; Shell Pressured to Leave

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, May 28th, 2011

Syria’s Economic Challanges: How Long Can the Government Pay the Growing Costs of the Uprising?

Posted by Joshua on Friday, May 27th, 2011

Five Books on Syria – Recommended by Nikolas van Dam

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

News Round Up (3 May 2011) Syrian Banks Asked to Pay for Stable Syrian Pound

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

Damned if We Do and Damned if We Don’t

Posted by Joshua on Friday, March 18th, 2011

Fuel Subsidies to be Cut April 1? Syria Eyes Western Intervention in Libya with Caution. Denies Giving Military Aid to Qaddafi

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, March 12th, 2011

News Round UP (7 march 2011)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, March 7th, 2011

News Round Up (27 February 2011)

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, February 27th, 2011

Economic Round Up (Febrary 2011)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, February 17th, 2011

George Saghir Responds to Samir Aita

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

“What Does the Future Hold for Syrian Economists?” By Samir Aita

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

“What Does the Future Hold for Syria?” By George Saghir

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 7th, 2011

Will “Day of Rage” Rock Syria?

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

“Syrian Corruption” by Lina Sinjab; Tourism and Preserving Syrian Heritage; Stateless Kurds

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, December 30th, 2010

George Saghir and Bassel Hamwi Launch Independent Economic Index to Assess Syrian Economy

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Syria first bond issue – A first round win for the Ministry of Finance

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

China’s Rise Undermines Power of Sanctions as US Diplomatic Tool

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Assad Grants State Employees a 50% Bonus as Job Creation Lags

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, November 14th, 2010

What is Behind the Uproar in Syria’s Labor Relations? The Reform Process and Jobs?

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, November 7th, 2010

More WikiLeaks – Kerry: “Israel should return Golan”

Posted by Joshua on Monday, November 1st, 2010

Water: “Syria Should abandon its Policy of Food Self-Sufficiency,” Elhadj and Al-Khouli

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

The Average Arab Has Grown Poorer Since 1980; Oxford Analytica and EIU Reports (24 Oct. 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, October 24th, 2010

“The Sin in Syria is Low Wages,” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Monday, October 18th, 2010

Drought, Water Management, and the Kurdish Question

Posted by Joshua on Friday, October 15th, 2010

Syria Faces Economic Hurdles

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

Can Syria Attract $55 Billion in Foreign Investment in 5 years?

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, September 25th, 2010

Memorizing is Out in Syrian Schools? Poetry is In.

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010

News Round Up (13 Sept 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, September 13th, 2010

“Why Does Syria Do So Badly in World Economic Rankings,” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Friday, September 10th, 2010

Drought Hits East for Forth Year Causing More Distress

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010

News Round Up (1 Sept. 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Will Obama Abandon the Bush Policy of Punishing Mid East Countries that Oppose Israeli Expansion?

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

News Round Up (29 August 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

News Round Up (22 July 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

The Niqab and Syria’s Private Girls Schools

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

News Round Up (14 July 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Real GDP Growth 5.9%? Turkey and Change in the Region; Fadlallah Dies

Posted by Joshua on Monday, July 5th, 2010

News Round Up (25 June 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 24th, 2010

US-Syrian Diplomatic War; US Tech Firms to Syria; Trade Union w. Turkey

Posted by Joshua on Monday, June 14th, 2010

Who is Changing the Regional Balance of Power?

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

News Round Up (14 April 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Renewed talks between Israel and Syria unlikely

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Kerry Creates Good Will in Damascus

Posted by Joshua on Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Syrian Economy; Israel – US Clash

Posted by Joshua on Friday, March 19th, 2010

Devastation in the North East; Left Laments Israel; Right Laments Syria

Posted by Joshua on Monday, March 8th, 2010

News Round Up (6 March 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Assad Reaches Out to Business, Turkey, France and the US

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 22nd, 2010

Will Engaging Syria deal a “Blow to Iran”? Not Likely.

Posted by Joshua on Friday, February 19th, 2010

US Economic Sanctions on Syria Have Failed

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Obama Nominates Ambassador to Syria as Businessmen Rush in

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

News Round Up (15 February 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 15th, 2010

Economy Grows at 4%ish; Saudi Handshaking; Israeli-Syria Verbal Jousting

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 8th, 2010

Syrian Growth Figures; More Scary Drought Figures from the East

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Economics, NGOs and More

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

“The US Censors Syrian Internet,” By Idaf

Posted by Joshua on Monday, January 25th, 2010

NGO’s in Syria; Mitchell Should Resign; Egypt and Syria Feud; Assad to Libya

Posted by Joshua on Monday, January 25th, 2010

Al-Waleed Bin Talal: “Assad… we are getting him back in the fold”

Posted by Joshua on Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Mitchell on the March, Muslim Brothers in Egypt, Makhlouf Man of 2009

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

News Round up (20 January 2010)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

American Sanctions on Syria: Godsend to Hardliners, Hell for Liberalizers – By Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Economic Policy and Amer Lutfi as Head of State Planning Commission

Posted by Joshua on Monday, January 18th, 2010

“Has President Assad Stepped Up Economic Reform?” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Deborah Amos on the Water and Food Crisis

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, January 9th, 2010

Washington Reaffirms Sanctions on Syria as Gift to Israel

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Assessing Hariri’s visit to Lebanon and Syria’s Rise

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Is Syria to Blame for the Bombings in Iraq?

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Syria and Iraq and Lebanon and ….

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

France Champions Syria While US Says Differences with Damascus are “Profound”

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Azmeh and Zubaida Join the Neolibralism Debate.

Posted by Joshua on Monday, November 16th, 2009

Omar Dahi and Ehsani Debate “Neoliberalism” and Economic Reform

Posted by Joshua on Friday, November 13th, 2009

Netanyahu Talks Peace for the Press; Syrian Subsidies

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, November 12th, 2009

News Round Up (6 November 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Friday, November 6th, 2009

It’s the Economy Stupid – Ehsani Comments

Posted by Joshua on Friday, October 30th, 2009

Turkey’s “Zero Problem with Neighbors” Reaches Iran: New Currency Deal Eliminates Dollar

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, October 29th, 2009

The Turkey-Syria-Iran Alliance Heats Up; The Economy, Tepid

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Syria’s Four Seas strategy, by Yoav Stern

Posted by Alex on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Will Syria Give up the Golan as it Gave up Alexandretta?

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Muhammad Atta in Aleppo; Muslim Brothers; Oil

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Turkey Says More Water For Iraq, Syria Is Unlikely

Posted by Joshua on Friday, September 4th, 2009

The Syrian Public Sector, Corruption, Taxation, and Government Services” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Friday, August 21st, 2009

Syria Seeks to Separate US Relationship from Arab-Israeli Conflict

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, August 20th, 2009

News Round Up (Mon Aug. 10, 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, August 10th, 2009

Sanctions on Hafiz Makhluf and Muhammad Nasif Khayr Bek Extended

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, August 1st, 2009

Economic News (16 July 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, July 16th, 2009

News Round Up (1 July 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

“Syrian Population Growth and Unemployment” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

“Hillary is Wrong About Settlements,” Elliott Abrams & Saudi Arabia

Posted by Joshua on Friday, June 26th, 2009

Syrian Reformers Increasingly Agree that EU-Syrian Association Agreement Should be Signed

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, June 20th, 2009

News Round Up (June 17, 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

News Round Up (June 2, 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

Syria’s New Tax Code

Posted by Joshua on Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Ire over US Sanctions Causes Policy Review in Damascus

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Syria Eats Sanctions but Looks to Mitchell Visit for Understanding

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, May 10th, 2009

What is Feltman Doing in Damascus?

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Hariri Tribunal Releases Lebanese Generals for lack of Evidence

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Lieberman, the perfect foil – Lebanon

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Hizbullah and Elections

Posted by Joshua on Monday, April 13th, 2009

News Round Up (12 April 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, April 12th, 2009

News Round Up (8 April 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Stocks Prices are Up – Peace is Down

Posted by Joshua on Friday, April 3rd, 2009

News Round Up (April 1, 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Syria’s Bourse – The Launch & Recommendations for Enhanced Liquidity

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, March 26th, 2009

“Middle East Peace and the U.S.-Saudi Relationship:,” by Lippmann

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Syria Dresses Up

Posted by Joshua on Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Asad, “An ambassador is important… There is nothing real yet.”

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Ambassadors, Kerry, Levey, Sanctions, and Peace

Posted by on Sunday, February 15th, 2009

Is Syria Putting a Price Tag on a US Brokered Peace with Israel?

Posted by Joshua on Friday, February 6th, 2009

Balancing “Change” and “Prudence” will be an arduous process for President Obama

Posted by Alex on Monday, February 2nd, 2009

New Round Up (31 Jan 2009)

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, February 1st, 2009

Water and Economics in Syria

Posted by Joshua on Friday, January 2nd, 2009

Peace Talks and the Economy

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, December 25th, 2008

Economy: Syria Avoids Recession

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, December 13th, 2008

News Round UP (6 December 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, December 6th, 2008

IMF Report on Syria: Non- oil exports increased 23.5 percent

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, November 29th, 2008

“Start With Syria” by Aaron David Miller

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Major Oil Strike in Latakia?

Posted by Joshua on Monday, November 10th, 2008

News Round Up (17 Oct. 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Friday, October 17th, 2008

Has Assad’s Social Base Narrowed or Expanded?

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Syria’s Joint Bank Venture: Syrian Embassy to Open in Lebanon

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

US to Lift Sanctions on Syria? More on Syrian Military North of Lebanon

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, October 5th, 2008

Why Syria Doesn’t Want War with Israel

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, October 4th, 2008

“Syria Talks Spur Speculation” by Jim Lobe & More…

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

Syria Comment Returns + News Roundup

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, September 20th, 2008

News Round Up (12 Sept. 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Friday, September 12th, 2008

News Round UP (9 Sept. 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, September 8th, 2008

Economic News About Syria (6 Sept 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, September 7th, 2008

Competing with the Syrian government itself and wining hands down

Posted by Alex on Monday, September 1st, 2008

Biden on Syria

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, August 24th, 2008

IDAF’s Observations on his Month-long Trip Around Syria

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

Ehsani’s Observations Following a Two Week Visit to Aleppo

Posted by Joshua on Monday, August 18th, 2008

News Round Up (18 Aug. 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, August 18th, 2008

News Round Up (12 Aug. 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

Aref Dalileh released

Posted by Alex on Thursday, August 7th, 2008

Andrew Tabler: “The U.S. Can Help Tackle Syrian Corruption”

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

News Round Up (27 July 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, July 28th, 2008

“Some Remarks on Syria,” by Observer

Posted by Joshua on Friday, July 18th, 2008

Mead takes on Walt & Mearsheimer on Why the US is pro-Israel

Posted by Joshua on Friday, July 18th, 2008

The Prisoner Swap Controversy

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, July 17th, 2008

Lebanon Gets a Government

Posted by Joshua on Friday, July 11th, 2008

As Paris Boosts Assad, US Adds Sanctions (10 July 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Assad: “Bush Cannot Make Peace;” Economist on Syria’s Economic Outlook

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

Prison Riot, Golan, Syria Heads East

Posted by Joshua on Monday, July 7th, 2008

Interpol says Syria “very cooperative” on Terrorism: US Oil Majors Back in Iraq

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, June 19th, 2008

Syria Pegs Hopes on India and Econ. Liberalization

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, June 18th, 2008

News Round Up (10 June 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

Economic and Political Isolation of Syria Crumbling Fast

Posted by Joshua on Monday, June 9th, 2008

Q & A with President Assad in Dubai

Posted by Alex on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

News (4 June 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

News Round Up (2 June 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, June 2nd, 2008

“An Economic Plan for Syria’s Future,” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, June 1st, 2008

“The Syrian Economy,” by Ibrahim Hamidi

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

More Firms Find Ways Around Sanctions on Syria and Iran

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

As Commodity Prices Soar, the Income Gap Rips at Society’s Middle

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, May 4th, 2008

U.S. pressures Turkcell to abandon Syria deal & other Economic News

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, May 1st, 2008

News Round Up (18 April 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Friday, April 18th, 2008

News Round Up (15 April 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008

Upping Diplomatic, Judicial, Economic and Military Pressure on Syria is Unlikely to Work

Posted by Joshua on Friday, April 11th, 2008

Brother Accuses France of Killing Siddiq: US Accuses French and Swiss of Breaking Spirit of Sanctions

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

News Round Up (7 April 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Monday, April 7th, 2008

“Syrian Economy in Downturn,” by Ehsani

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

Economic War: Syria’s New Struggle

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

Rami Makhlouf Speaks to the WSJ

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Summitry 2

Posted by Joshua on Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Summitry (26 March 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

What is Behind Israeli Offers of Peace Negotiations?

Posted by Joshua on Monday, March 17th, 2008

News Roundup (8 March 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Sunday, March 9th, 2008

News Roundup (28 February 2008)

Posted by Joshua on Friday, February 29th, 2008

Syria’s Stand on Lebanon: Saudi Arabia Withdraws Ambassador From Damascus

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

Sanctions on Businessman Target Syria’s Inner Sanctum

Posted by Alex on Friday, February 22nd, 2008

Will Sanctions and the Mughniyah Killing Make Syria Blink?

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, February 16th, 2008

The Missed opportunity in Lebanon

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, February 9th, 2008

The Eighth Gate of Damascus

Posted by Alex on Thursday, February 7th, 2008

“Once-Socialist Damascus Displays New Wealth, Glitz,” by Deborah Amos

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

“Syria’s policy, post-Annapolis,” by H. Cobban

Posted by Joshua on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

Economist: Syrian Economic Outlook for 2008-09

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, January 5th, 2008

“Syrian expatriates return home in hopes of new wealth,” by Julien Barnes-Dacey

Posted by Joshua on Saturday, December 29th, 2007

Five undeniable facts about the Syria that I saw / by Ehsani

Posted by Alex on Monday, December 24th, 2007

« Previous Entries