Seminars, Webinars, & High-level Events
Webinar on Informality, Development, and the Business Cycle in MENA
April 30th, 2024
The International Monetary Fund-Middle East Center for Economics and Finance (IMF-CEF) and the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department (IMF-MCD) held a joint webinar titled "Informality, Development, and the Business Cycle in MENA" on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Mr. Moez Souissi, Deputy Director of the CEF, gave opening remarks and Mr. Rashid Sbia, Senior Economist at the CEF, moderated the event. The speakers, Roberto Cardarelli and Hippolyte Balima, presented various measures and drivers of the large informality in several MENA countries, with a particular focus on the role of economic development and policy distortions. They discussed the impact of selected labor and product market reforms on informality and growth, and emphasized important country-specific policy challenges that the authorities face in their efforts to phase out the informal economy. The floor then opened for discussions during the Q&A session with a diverse audience comprised of public sector officials, academics, and representatives of the business community, civil society, and other international organizations. In closing, Mr. Rashid thanked the speakers for sharing their insights on informality in the region and members of the audience for the lively discussions.
For more details about the webinar, please refer to the following links:
