Brookings: Experts - Navtej Dhillon

Generation in Waiting : The Unfulfilled Promise of Young People in the Middle East

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Young people in the Middle East (15--29 years old) constitute about one-third of the region's population. Generation in Waiting portrays their plight, urging greater investment designed to improve the lives of this critical group.

Geithner and the New Middle East Economic Agenda

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As U.S. Secretary Treasury Geithner concludes his first visit to the Middle East, Navtej Dhillon argues for a new agenda which links U.S. efforts to reduce its dependency on foreign oil to the Middle East’s challenge of building diversified economies which provide a better future for the region’s citizens.

The Many Crises of Iranian Youth

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With Iran at a political impasse, Navtej Dhillon and Daniel Egel write that the youth of Iran, who account for nearly 40 percent of the voting age population, have been profoundly disappointed by the promises of the Islamic Republic and are yearning for opportunities for economic advancement.

Middle East's Dual Challenge: Youth and the Economy

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama presented his much anticipated speech in Cairo at a time when the Middle East faces the dual challenge of a peaking youth population and a slumping economy. On NPR’s Marketplace, Navtej Dhillon describes how the region can address chronic youth unemployment through a larger reform agenda, including social sector investment and open dialogue between the state and its citizens.

Change We Can Believe In? The Muslim World, America, and Obama's Promise

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the pervasive challenges of poverty and illiteracy, the two strongest ties that bind the U.S. and the Muslim world are still military aid and oil. In the wake of President Obama's historic speech to the Muslim world from Cairo on June 4, Navtej Dhillon, Laurence Chandy and Geoffrey Gertz argue that a new foundation for engagement must include instruments such as trade, investment and human development.

Institutions, Markets and Youth in the Middle East During Global Downturn

Wed, 20 May 2009 15:03:57 GMT

Reformers in the Middle East are facing testing times, explains Navtej Dhillon, summarizing the findings of a new Middle East Youth Initiative report. Will existing challenges of youth unemployment and exclusion worsen, or will countries enact the necessary reforms to emerge stronger from the economic slowdown?

Missed by the Boom, Hurt by the Bust: Making Markets Work for Young People in the Middle East

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new Middle East Youth Initiative report is the first of its kind to assess the early risks faced by young people during the economic downturn, calling on policy makers to help prevent an intensified jobs crisis in the region.

Global Economic Crisis: Prosperity and Politics in Lebanon

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Navtej Dhillon speaks with Jad Chaaban, author of “The Costs of Youth Exclusion in the Middle East,” about the resilience of Lebanon’s economy during the global recession. With elections approaching, policymakers must protect recent fiscal gains, avoid debt increases, and ensure diverse jobs are available for Lebanon’s youthful electorate. An edited transcript follows.

Beyond Reconstruction: What Lies Ahead for Young Palestinians?

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Donors have pledged $4.4 billion in new aid to rebuild Gaza, yet serious questions remain regarding the fate of the Palestinian economy. Navtej Dhillon writes that the West Bank and Gaza need more than a lifeline of aid to achieve real development for a growing youth population.

Global Economic Crisis: A Catalyst for Change in Saudi Arabia?

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

While King Abdullah's recent Cabinet shake-up makes headlines, the country is also confronting a volatile global economy in advance of London's G-20 summit. With oil prices slumping, Navtej Dhillon and Hassan Hakimian analyze whether Saudi Arabia can maintain its strong economic position and continue to create jobs for its youth population.

The Middle East in a Post Oil-Boom Era?

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With recent global growth projections for 2009 painting an austere picture, Middle Eastern economies are entering a post oil boom phase. As economic security and recovery take on a renewed urgency, Navtej Dhillon outlines key considerations for the new Obama administration arguing that U.S. foreign assistance to the Middle East must be reassessed to support countries through this difficult transition.

West Bank and Gaza Economy: Before and After the Crisis

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Navtej Dhillon speaks to Edward Sayre, co-author of a forthcoming Middle East Youth Initiative working paper on Palestinian youth, on the economic conditions in the Palestinian Territories. As the Gaza crisis continues and young Palestinians face deteriorating prospects, the imperative of transforming a weak and fragmented Palestinian economy is greater than ever.

India's Materialist Middle Class Needs to Wake Up

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Navtej Dhillon writes that in the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, public confidence in the Indian political system is at an all time low. With the growing realization that economic growth alone cannot preserve the country’s stability, can the Indian middle class pave the way for a new politics that addresses the age-old conflict with Pakistan?

Global Economic Crisis: Mixed Forecast for Jordan and Syria

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jordan and Syria have recently faced similar economic challenges such as absorbing large numbers of Iraqi refugees and fighting high inflation. Yet the global economic slowdown may have unique implications for development and reform in each country, as Taher Kanaan and Nader Kabbani reveal in interviews with the Middle East Youth Initiative’s Navtej Dhillon.

Light at the End of the Tunnel in Egypt's Marriage Crisis?

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Navtej Dhillon and Ragui Assaad share findings from new research by the Middle East Youth Initiative indicating that a series of reforms in Egypt has given young people easier access to rental housing. With housing more affordable so, too, is marriage, giving hope to numerous young people in the region who have delayed married life due to financial constraints.

Global Economic Crisis: Can Egypt Emerge as a Winner?

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the third in a series of analyses by the Middle East Youth Initiative, Navtej Dhillon speaks with with prominent Middle East economist Dr. Heba Handoussa on the critical issues facing Egypt’s economy and how it can create a favorable climate for long-term growth and investment in the context of the global financial crisis.

Global Economic Crisis: Short and Long-term Prospects for Egypt

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a recorded discussion, Navtej Dhillon speaks to Dr. Ragui Assaad on short-term and long-term prospects for the Egyptian economy. This piece is the second in a series of analyses, "Food, Fuel, and Finance: How Will the Middle East Weather the Global Economic Crisis?" by the Middle East Youth Initiative.

Stalled Youth Transitions in the Middle East

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The confluence of economic growth in the Middle East and millions of youth ready to hit the job market could be a recipe for prosperity. However, young people are encountering numerous obstacles. Navtej Dhillon, Director of the Middle East Youth Initiative, and Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Visiting Fellow at the Wolfensohn Center for Development, argue that the root cause of youth exclusion lies in the institutions that mediate transitions from school to work and family formation.

Iraq's Missing Generation

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The future of Iraq hinges on its young, but far too many of them have been driven into exile.

Top 10 Global Economic Challenges Facing America's 44th President

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As President-Elect Obama prepares to lead the United States, what are the top global economic challenges facing the new president and his advisors and how should the new administration address them? A new report by Brookings global economic and development experts ranks the top 10 issues and details specific ideas for how to tackle the toughest challenges.

Egypt’s Education System: Parents and Students Emerge as a New Force for Reform

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Navtej Dhillon, Amina Fahmy, and Djavad Salehi-Isfahani discuss the troubled state of Egypt’s education system, demonstrated most recently by the organized leaking of national exams. Growing frustration among parents and students can be remedied by reforming signals from the labor market and university admissions policies.

Addressing Yemen's Twin Deficits: Human and Natural Resources

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the wake of the attack on the U.S. embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, Navtej Dhillon emphasizes that human development, resource management, and the productive use of a fast growing youth population are of utmost importance to Yemen’s future, the poorest country in the Arab world. The international community must now do more than ever to invest in sustainable economic development and institutional capacity-building to ensure the country’s prosperity and stability.

The 'Union for the Mediterranean:' The Next Generation of Europe-Middle East Cooperation?

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Navtej Dhillon and Diana Greenwald argue that, despite a difficult political climate, the 'Union for the Mediterranean' can exceed expectations by convening European and Arab leaders around a pressing and shared interest: the need to improve economic outcomes for millions of young people in the broader Middle East.

The Middle Eastern Marriage Crisis

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Middle East Youth Initiative collaborates with NOW on PBS on a documentary about youth employment in Jordan. In a special online supplement, NOW interviews Navtej Dhillon, Brookings fellow and director of the Middle East Youth Initiative, on the challenges facing youth across the Middle East—including unemployment and delayed marriage—and the role of the international community in contributing to reform and development in the region.

Middle East’s Economic Paradox

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

According to a recent study by the Middle East Youth Initiative, the region loses $25 billion a year due to youth unemployment. Navtej Dhillon, MEYI Director/Fellow, Jad Chaaban, Assistant Professor at American University of Beirut, and Tarik Yousef, Brookings Senior Fellow and Dean of the Dubai School of Government, discuss country statistics and regional policy implications.

Urban and Young: The Future of the Middle East

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Navtej Dhillon and Amina Fahmy reflect on urbanization in the Middle East and how city-to-city collaboration on urban development can help improve the lives of young people. While many urban residents are now unable to enjoy the benefits of globalization and market reforms, effective city planning and knowledge sharing between cities can encourage an open and equitable urban environment providing opportunities for those who are excluded, including a large segment of the region’s youth population.

Middle East Youth Bulge: Challenge or Opportunity?

Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The youth challenge is the most critical 21st century economic development challenge facing the Middle East. Navtej Dhillon, Fellow/Director of the Middle East Youth Initiative, co-presented at a panel of experts to congressional staffers from the Foreign Relations Committee on the implications and opportunities of the youth bulge and how states and outside organizations are trying to respond.

Can the Middle East Build a Global Middle Class?

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President Bush recently returned from his five day tour in the Middle East where he spoke at the World Economic Forum about aligning economic growth with political reform. Navtej Dhillon and Djavad Salehi Isfahani of the Middle East Youth Initiative examine the role of the middle class in the context of a regional oil boom and a demographic boon.

Middle East Development and Democracy

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:03:22 GMT

The promotion of democracy abroad is hugely important, but we must focus on the best way to promote it. Navtej Dhillon says we need to move away from military power as tool of democracy promotion and start examining the use of economic development as our strongest method of building stronger ties between the Middle East and the United States.

Boosting Smart Power: The Role of the United States in the Middle East

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

While the United States concentrates its Middle Eastern policy efforts on democracy and the war on terrorism, 60% of the region’s population is facing a crisis of their own – a fight for decent education, employment and housing. Brookings Fellow Navtej Dhillon says that the United States and the international community must refocus their efforts on building a future for the Middle Eastern majority; from using hard power to boosting smart power.

Egypt’s Economic Prosperity: A Prospect for Hope or Potential for Shattered Dreams?

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings Fellow Navtej Dhillon discusses Egypt's economic prosperity and whether the country's youth will see the benefits of job acceleration.

The Wedding Shortage

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Marriage, long the centerpiece of Middle Eastern life, is in crisis. The reason: a new generation of young men cannot afford to marry--a fact that's destined to exacerbate many of the region's social and political problems.

Top Ten Global Economic Challenges: An Assessment of Global Risks and Priorities

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Top Ten Global Economic Challenges Report by Global Economy and Development (February 2007)