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The Arab world should employ more women

Asmaa Megahed, 30 years old, who's known as "Ousta Asmaa", a carpenter and designer, works inside her workshop in Cairo, Egypt February 27, 2017. Picture taken February 27, 2017. Ousta Asmaa, who started working in this profession by helping her husband in his workshop sends a message to women "That they shouldn't pay attention to those who comment negatively on the work traditionally for men, forget them. Women can do any business no matter how difficult. Do anything you love, do not give up for anyone who wants to discourage you, there are many men saying that women can’t do anything just "cooking and cooking", but women can do the impossible". REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh - RTS11Z8L

Content from the Brookings Doha Center is now archived. In September 2021, after 14 years of impactful partnership, Brookings and the Brookings Doha Center announced that they were ending their affiliation. The Brookings Doha Center is now the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, a separate public policy institution based in Qatar.

Bessma Momani, nonresident fellow at the Brookings Doha Center and author of Arab Dawn, examines how Arab countries would benefit from more women joining the formal workforce and how this would promote gender equality throughout the region.

Also in this episode, David Wessel, senior fellow and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, provides his regular economic update. This week: five big questions on economic policy.

Finally, Matt Fiedler, fellow with the Center for Health Policy in Economic Studies,  discusses why he became a scholar and why he believes health care reform is currently the most pressing policy issue.

Show Notes:

Arab Dawn: Arab Youth and the Demographic Dividend They Will Bring

Entrepreneurship: An engine for job creation and inclusive growth in the Arab World

Equality and the economy: Why the Arab world should employ more women

Struggling economy? Gender equality can fix that

Mostly Harmless Econometrics: An Empiricist’s Companion 

Ways to listen to this episode:

Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Kelly Russo, and Rebecca Viser.

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