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The writer is CEO of the Envision Consulting Group and former minister of state for economic affairs.
When exploring survey data recently released by the Jordan Department of Statistics (DOS), a compelling narrative emerges regarding divorce rates across the twelve governorates of Jordan spanning the years 2016 to 2022. Within this dataset lies a tapestry of stories challenging prevailing beliefs and shedding light on unexpected anomalies. Surprisingly, amidst the complex landscape of marital dynamics, it appears that selecting a partner from Jarash or Ajloun may represent an optimal choice for Jordanians. This revelation not only piques curiosity but also underscores the nuanced intricacies of marriage and divorce within Jordanian society.
According to a recent publication by the World Bank, global growth is projected to fall from 2.6 percent in 2023 to 2.4 percent in 2024. Developing economies are projected to grow by just 3.9 percent, and low-income countries should grow by 5.5 percent. Jordan’s economy is expected to grow at 2.6 percent in real terms, and inflation will be 2.5 percent, thus making the nominal growth rate 5.1 percent. However, the attack on Gaza may bring economic growth down to 2 percent, and the advice of the IMF, which is basically to cut government spending, needs to be shunned if growth is to increase beyond such a dismal rate.
The Department of Statistics (DoS) has released its semi-annual report on newly created jobs in Jordan during the second half of 2022. This report, both concise and significant, holds comparable importance to any economic analysis of the country. A brief examination of the press release and its analysis underscores the document's value.
The recent campaign to boycott the products of companies that are believed to support Israel has not been without controversy. While some view the boycott as a patriotic act and duty, others see the boycott as harmful to the local producers, traders, and the domestic supply chain. Consequently, in light of the Israeli attack on Gaza, marked by a vicious disregard for the lives of vulnerable civilians, especially women and children, and considering the economic repercussions of the boycott on Jordan, it is imperative to delve into this complex issue.
The attack on Gaza, the world’s largest prison and only concentration camp will have resulted by the time this article is published in 12,000 Palestinian lives, over 5,000 of them are children, and hundreds of thousands are injured, some severely. In addition, over 1.65 million Gazans have been displaced from the North to the south of Gaza. Does genocide (and ethnic cleansing mean that Israel is a victor? Not necessarily!
A closer examination of recent and not-so-recent publications from the IMF and World Bank reveals statements like "Jordan's economic transformation remains contingent on identifying opportunities to expand the economy's outward orientation and to implement reforms needed to promote private sector-led growth and job creation." These statements serve as policy guidelines and are deeply ingrained in the current Jordanian development paradigm. However, breaking down these components shows the inherent problems with such vague rhetoric.
Currently, there is anger amongst the Arab masses towards the West for their callous attitude toward Arab human life and their apparent total support for Israel, the occupier who has broken every international law and got away with murder(s) time and again. At times like these, it is important to understand the sources and causes of this seemingly unjustified bias.
There is a certain elegance in numbers that tell a story, especially if some economic wisdom may emerge from them. This is why when the Jordan Strategy Forum published a compendium of data related to lending venues of the private banks in Jordan from 2002-2022, several stories were told in these twenty years in numbers.
The average price of Octane-95 gasoline around the world is US$1.35 per litre. There is a considerable difference in these prices among countries. Usually, richer countries have higher prices while poorer countries and the countries that produce and export oil have much lower prices (Jordan is among the exceptions to this rule). The differences in retail prices across countries are caused by taxes and subsidies, which vary from one country to another.
Apologies in advance for using the word “I” in this article; however, I have been preaching for years now that the government should focus on and invest in innovation for decades now, and all calls and justifications seem to fall on deaf ears. The formula is simple: innovation leads to increased productivity, which increases everyone's income, including the state. Today, in yet another attempt, the argument for why innovation is so necessary is explained with a simple numerical example.
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