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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