Marketplace Morning Report Protests continue in Iran over economic policies
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Jan 2, 2026 Mehran Kamvara, an Iranian analyst and professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, sheds light on the ongoing protests in Iran, linking economic hardships and currency collapse to public anger. He discusses the rial's devaluation and the impact of government budget cuts favoring religious institutions. Meanwhile, Tom Brook, a BBC journalist, examines the erosion of film criticism in the digital age, highlighting how social media has affected the profession's cultural significance. They both provide compelling insights into current events and cultural shifts.
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Economic Strain Fuels Widespread Protests
- Iran's currency collapse and high inflation have eroded middle-class purchasing power and driven protests.
- Mehran Kamvara links the unrest to rising basic-food prices and a budget that spared religious institutions from cuts.
Currency Access Favors Connected Elites
- Government favoritism in currency conversion limits ordinary Iranians' access to basic goods.
- Kamvara says connected elites get favorable rates while average people face shortages and rising food costs.
Small Budget Choices Can Spark Big Anger
- A proposed budget that spared religious institutions became a trigger for mass anger despite small fiscal share.
- Kamvara notes symbolic budget choices can catalyze broader economic grievances into protests.