The Importance of Political Leadership in the Middle East

2min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

The IMF is focused on cutting Egypt's deficit, putting its debt-to-GDP ratio on a more sustainable trajectory. But it sort of misses the bigger issue that Egypt got into this problem in part because it has had a very, very sluggish economy for a long time. You look at all three of these economies and they are very reliant on tourism and remittances to bring in hard currency.

If there is one thing Facebook’s parent company does well, it is aping other social-media features and platforms—and it is a propitious time to steal Twitter’s thunder. Deeply indebted Arab countries desperately need loans from the IMF, but have good reasons to balk at the fund’s terms (10:00). And New Yorkers love their invasive parakeets; the birds’ enormous nests, less so (18:41).

For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer