Halal: Chasing The $500 Billion Industry
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: The race is on to establish powerful international ‘halal brands’. The stakes are high: by some estimates $500bn a year.…
Army: Making Jordan’s Mass Employer Pay
NASEEM TARAWNAH: With 100,000 active personnel, nearly 65,000 in reserve , and household sizes of 5.4 that's 891,000 people linked to the army's payroll.…
Saudi Begins to Push Transparency in Government
CROSSROADS ARABIA: Saudi is pushing government transparency, with officials with decision-making authority required to disclose financial status.…
Why an Iranian Oil Boycott by Europe Would Fail
JUAN COLE: An Economist Intelligence Unit graphic of consumption pinpoints with simple clarity why an EU boycott of Iranian oil could have only a limited impact.…
The State is the Beast: An Angell on Economics
STEVE ROYSTON: An Angell visited the other day. Not one with wings, but a Welshman with a biting tongue and the rhetorical skills of David Lloyd George.…
Saudi’s Stark Employment Imbalance: For Every One Saudi, 15 Expatriates Hired
CROSSROADS ARABIA: These jobs are all critical to society - they are honest jobs. The one thing they don't carry, however, is status.…
Iran Oil Embargo: Nations Most Affected
DAVID ROBERTS: A quick and easy map from CNN showing where Iran sends its oil, and therefore those that will be the most affected in case of an oil embargo.…
Qatar Makes Labour Rights Commitments, Yields to World Cup Pressure
JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar has vowed to ensure that contractors involved in preparations for the 2022 World Cup will adhere to international labour laws…
Turkish Soccer: High Debt, Unorthodox Economics
JAMES M. DORSEY: Turkish soccer faces the same risks as the country’s economy, it operates on the same principles: high debt, unorthodox monetary policy.…
What High Heels Say About Economic Cycles
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Usually, in an economic downturn heels go up as consumers turn to more flamboyant fashion as a means of escape...…
