http://www.dsg.ae//En/home/index.aspx RSS Feeds “Women and Globalization in the GCC: Negotiating States, Agency and Social Change”, is a workshop organized by May Aldabbagh from Harvard University and the Gender and Public Policy Program at the Dubai School of Government (DSG) and Dalia Abdelhady from the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Lund at the 2012 Gulf Research Meeting in Cambridge organized by the Gulf Research Center. 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=313 Over the past 15 years, the Arab region has witnessed major technology-led transformations which changed the norms of doing business, practicing governance and carrying out development efforts in the region.; 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=314 The source of income for the vast majority of older people comes from their pension pay and/or social security subsidy. At such a stage, they are at risk of abuse, especially, when they tend to depend on others for care due to aging progression, and poor health status. It is observed that the number of older people has increased than ever before. 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=312 In the increasingly globalized context of the UAE, women’s leadership development programs have become high on the agenda of government, academic and private sector organizations. 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=309 The Gender and Public Policy program is committed to supporting the Dubai School of Government’s goal to promote good governance and contribute to capacity building in the region. 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=311 Since the spark of the popular movements across the Arab world, the critical debate about Arab youth’s political empowerment and the innovative uses of social media has been ongoing in policy and academic circles. 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=307 This policy brief explores how economic boom and population growth have triggered increased demand for water in the UAE, and provides several concrete policy suggestions on how to optimize water use. 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=308 The provision for students with special educational needs in schools in Dubai is in a developmental stage as it seeks to meet identification, pedagogic and access challenges. 31 May 2012 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=304 This working paper highlights the importance of the creation, capturing, documentation and dissemination of knowledge and argues that knowledge management should be a priority, not only knowledge development. 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=299 This series of case studies is dedicated to identifying and disseminating experiences highlighting the issues and challenges confronting governments in the region seeking to implement various types of reforms and innovations in the public sector. 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=244 This working paper examines the political economy of privatization in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=243 This policy brief explores the obstacles to education reform in the MENA region, using curricular reform efforts in the UAE and Jordan as case studies. 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=241 This volume is a compilation of papers submitted to the Second Annual Symposium of the Gulf Comparative Education Society, held March 16-17, 2011. 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=240 This policy brief examines the current state of knowledge management (KM) in Dubai’s public sector. 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=238 This brief gives an overview of “shadow education,” its reach and patterns worldwide. Next, it presents the results of the recent DSG study revealing private tutoring practices among Emiratis. The brief concludes with a discussion of the consequences of private tutoring, and offers policy recommendations to address the issue. 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=237 The second Arab Social Media Report highlights and specifically analyzes usage trends of online social networking across the Arab region based on data collected in the first quarter of 2011. In this edition, the report analyzes data on Twitter and Facebook users in all 22 Arab countries, in addition to Iran, Israel and Turkey, highlighting the role they played in the civil movements that swept the region during that period. 31 May 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=236 "Effective change is contingent on reforming the educational systems in the region — beginning in primary school — to train individuals to think critically, to accept criticism, to welcome change, and to appreciate the values of collaborative and cooperative work." 15 May 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=234 This brief assesses the performance of Knowledge Management (KM) programs in Dubai’s public sector by identifying drivers for and barriers to KM. 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=232 In this essay published in Gulf News, Natasha Ridge outlines how family, school and state , "combine to create a system in which young women are actively continuing their education, but where young men are still failing to see the point of it." 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=233 This collection of 23 briefing papers from leading counter-piracy experts was prepared by DSG for the conference entitled “Global Challenge, Regional Responses: Forging a Common Approach to Maritime Piracy,” held in Dubai on April 18-19, 2011. The conference was organized by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and DP World. Editors included Stephen Brannon, Taufiq Rahim, Cyrus Hodes, Theodore Karasik and Ekram Al Yacoub. 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=230 This brief investigates the effects of the Palestinian Labor Law on unemployment duration for young Palestinians entering the labor market. 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=231 This paper examines male participation in higher education in the UAE from an economic and sociological perspective. It explores the reasons why so many Emirati men are failing to enroll in higher education. 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=228 This publication is the proceedings document of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme's 6th Meeting of the Working Group 2 on E-Government and Administrative Simplification, held in Dubai on April 27-28, 2010. 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=229 This series of case studies is dedicated to identifying and disseminating experiences highlighting the issues and challenges confronting governments in the region seeking to implement various types of reforms and innovations in the public sector. 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=226 This series of case studies is dedicated to identifying and disseminating experiences highlighting the issues and challenges confronting governments in the region seeking to implement various types of reforms and innovations in the public sector. 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=225 "While social media can be an instigator of, catalyst for and witness to social change, it does not bring about social change - not singlehandedly anyway. People do." 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=222 The Arab Social Media Report, produced by the Dubai School of Government’s Governance and Innovation Program, is the first in a quarterly series that will highlight and analyze usage trends of specific networking tools across the Arab region. In its inaugural edition, the report analyzes data on Facebook users in all 22 Arab countries, in addition to Iran and Israel. 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=223 The challenge ahead is not only about making a smooth transition to a more democratic system of governance. It is about relegitimizing the entire structure of government and the exercise of power. 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=220 The brief provides a description of the pre-school educational landscape in Dubai, and the challenges facing its further development, along with policy recommendations to address the current needs in the sector. 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=217 In this op-ed published in The Khaleej Times, Susan Crotty explores the roots of western misperceptions of danger in the UAE, and recommends steps the UAE can take to rectify the problem. 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=218 Looking at East Timor, this paper focuses on the relationship between the national oil company and the state and the governance mechanisms that enable the company and ensure adequate state control over the sector. 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=216 "Young men and women need to see a return on education in order to invest in it. Until that happens they will continue to opt out, and in the long term that is bound to be a curse." 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=219 This paper explores barriers to unleashing the potential power of ICTs for creating a culture of innovation within the Arab region, with a focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) specifically. 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=215 In “Building an International Financial System for the 21st Century,” Dr. David Dodge outlines the theoretical nature of the economic adjustment problem, which he stresses must be collectively addressed through cooperative policy actions by national authorities. He then briefly summarizes the current state of international arrangements to facilitate adjustment. Finally, he examines the salient elements that must be addressed in order to rebuild a stable and well functioning international monetary, economic and financial order for the 21st century. 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=227 This policy brief aims to highlight the importance of knowledge management and the factors that influence its implementation within the context of public sector organizations. 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=224 The authors develop a modified version of the standard Solow and Ramsey growth models suited for countries with high proportions of foreign workers: firms hire foreign workers who are assumed to send a proportion of their wages as remittances. 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=213 The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of soft power in Middle East politics by laying out a basic typology, identifying the sources of soft power, and illustrating its importance for regional politics. 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=214 Over the five year period from 2003 to 2008, private equity and venture capital investments have grown exponentially, both globally and in emerging markets, making private equity firms and funds increasingly important actors in emerging markets. In this paper, the author examines the hypothesis that private equity firms in emerging markets are entrepreneurial—i.e., are more focused on creating new firms or growing and globalizing existing ones, based on a case study of Egypt. 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=221 Given the increasing prominence of private equity investments in emerging markets, this policy brief examines whether governments should create similar policies to attract private equity as they do for foreign direct investments, and whether there are risks from private equity investments that require regulatory interventions. 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=210 This policy note is based on “Women, Property and the Law in Early Modern Cairo,” a lecture presented by Dr. Mary Ann Fay at the Dubai School of Government on December 1, 2010. The lecture was organized and supported by the Gender and Public Policy Program at the Dubai School of Government. 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=211 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=212 This paper studies how the internal structure of agriculture export markets and the level of competition affect poverty and welfare in rural areas in Africa. 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=207 The goal of this paper is to provide a broad assessment of leadership development programs in the Arab world. In particular, it explores three main questions: First, what counts as leadership development in the Arab world? Second, what are some of the main challenges facing leadership development programs in the Arab world? Third, what are the key recommendations for advancing effective leadership development in the Arab world? 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=206 Women’s entrepreneurship has been gaining traction as a subject of interest––for research, discussion, and policy intervention globally, and the Gulf is no exception. Indeed, the excitement about the role the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) area is playing regionally and globally is itself associated with the increasing role of its women––who are estimated to hold just over a third of wealth in the GCC. 25 Nov 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=205 In this editorial in the Financial Times, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi urges local media to report on the hidden links between leading businessmen and governments in the Arab world. 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=208 In this editorial, May Al-Dabbagh and Paul Dyer comment on the UAE’s progress in gender equality indices, urging policy makers to address core problems rather than merely trying to improve the country’s ranking. 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=204 This policy note is based on “HIV/AIDS and Women’s Rights: A Public Policy Perspective,” a lecture presented by Dr. Khadija Moalla at the Dubai School of Government on October 5, 2010. The lecture was organized and supported by the Gender and Public Policy Program at the Dubai School of Government. 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=209 In recent years, the countries of the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) have been the site of a booming industry for leadership development programs. The growing demand for competent “leaders” has been met with a plethora of programs from local and international actors, including academic institutions, governments, private sector companies, international development agencies, non-governmental organizations, and for-profit consultancies. 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=203 This report provides an overview of critical issues regarding adaptation to climate change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It draws upon the authors’ ongoing research and from the discussion and papers presented at the Dubai Initiative workshop “Climate Adaptation in the Middle East and North Africa: Challenges and Opportunities,” which convened at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, May 3-4, 2010. 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=201 In this paper, the author reviews the evidence on youth transitions in Iran, using recent survey data for 2007 and 2008, to show how the economic crisis since 2008 has affected youth transitions to employment and to marriage. The author also shows how transitions differ by family background and by region of residence – rural and urban. While in many ways "waithood" is a phenomenon that cuts across social classes in Iran, disadvantaged youth sometimes face greater challenges in transitions to employment and marriage. 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=202 This report is based on an exhaustive review of source material in Arabic, French and English, including interviews with members of the Dubai and Djiboutian business communities, shipping and logistics agents and traders, and international aid organizations. It is the first systematic investigation of the origins and economic impact of a 10-year partnership, one the author argues holds potentially serious implications for the aid/investment balance in Africa. 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=199 First published in The Huffington Post, in this piece Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi traces the development of civil society in the GCC states and urges Gulf governments to embrace a gradual reform process. 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=200 This paper describes the challenges Abu Dhabi faces in meeting its renewable energy goal, and the difficult policy environment that is shaping energy planning in the region, including the electricity shortage and rising consumption. It then examines the investments needed to meet Abu Dhabi’s ambitious target. It takes a closer look at the likely shape of a renewable installation, discussing costs and benefits for the state. Finally, it offers policy suggestions aimed at bringing the goal to fruition. 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=197 In an op-ed in Friday's Gulf News, Paul Dyer explains why empowering women is the best hope of securing healthy marriages for an emerging generation of Emirati youth. 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=198 In this op-ed published in The National, Susan Crotty outlines the hidden costs of bad management. 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=196 Four studies explore how culture shapes the contents of gender stereotypes, demonstrating that men serve as "cultural ideals," such that they are perceived as possessing more of whatever traits are culturally valued. 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=195 International branch campuses (IBCs) have a significant presence in Dubai’s higher education sector, yet the role of these institutions is not yet fully understood. Moreover, the evolution of the roles of IBCs in Dubai may be strongly influenced by public policy designs. This brief provides an overview of key public policy issues and presents a set of questions to help frame the ongoing conversation. 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=193 In this editorial, Theodore Karasik and Stephen Brannon illustrate the trade-off between legitimate security concerns and maintaining an open, business-friendly climate in the context of the UAE's ban on BlackBerry smartphones. 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=192 In this editorial, Theodore Karasik and Wayne James highlight the growing importance of food security as a public policy issue for countries of the GCC. 11 Jul 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=190 In partnership with Microsoft, DSG conducted an Executive Education course on "Innovative Government" from 7 to 9 March 2010, which explored concepts of innovation in the public sector and ways to foster innovative governance approaches. Academics, industry leaders and government officials collaborated to understand the implications of new technology trends for the public sector, in terms of both opportunities and challenges. This proceedings report covers presentations and discussions, and highlights the main themes and recommendations from the course. 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=188 This report is based on an exhaustive review of source material in Arabic, French and English, including interviews with members of the Dubai and Djiboutian business communities, shipping and logistics agents and traders, and international aid organizations. It is the first systematic investigation of the origins and economic impact of a 10-year partnership, one the author argues holds potentially serious implications for the aid/investment balance in Africa.The full monograph will be published in late summer, 2010. 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=187 The author argues that in spite of the extremely high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rates, GCC members will benefit economically, environmentally and geopolitically by constructing a harmonized pan-GCC carbon trading platform that will allow them to make cost-efficient decisions about greenhouse gas abatement. This paper is the first of a series of working papers published jointly by the Dubai School of Government and the Dubai Initiative. 22 Jun 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=186 "Healthcare Challenges in the Gulf Cooperation Council," a one-day conference jointly organized by the Dubai School of Government (DSG), The Harvard Medical School Dubai Center for Postgraduate Education and Research (HMSDC), and the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research (DHFMR), was held on November 19, 2009 at the Dubai School of Government. The event was held under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Hanif Hassan, UAE Minister of Health, and was hosted jointly by Dr. Tarik Yousef, Dean of the Dubai School of Government, and Dr. Ajay Singh, Chief Academic Officer of the Harvard Medical School Dubai Center. 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=185 This paper looks at teacher quality within the UAE, casting it as a function of teacher background characteristics, school characteristics and institutional characteristics. The data used was gathered from teacher observations, student surveys and teacher questionnaires conducted in eight MOE secondary schools. The paper finds that there are deficiencies in the recruitment, training and ongoing management of male, expatriate teachers, which may explain, at least in part, the poor performance and retention of boys. 31 May 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=183 On May 6, 2010, former Malaysian Prime Minister outlined how public policy in Malaysia was formulated to both spur dynamic economic growth as well as maintain social stability. 24 May 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=182 Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi lauds the advances made by UAE women, and calls for steps to address the growing educational and demographic imbalances that have accompanied their progress. 01 May 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=181 The recommendations in this report are proposed to facilitate the development of institutional alliances that need to take place in order to capitalize on social entrepreneurship, boost economic opportunities for young people in the Middle East, and prepare the region become more fully integrated into a rapidly changing global economy. 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=180 21 Apr 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=179 In an editorial in The National, Sultan Sooud Al-Qassmi calls for collective responsibility and accountability in the corporate world. 03 Apr 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=177 This volume argues for a shift from the narrow focus of "electronic government" on technology and transactions to the broader perspective of information government—the information flows within the public sector, between the public sector and citizens, and among citizens—as a way to understand the changing nature of governing and governance in today’s information society. 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=184 In an editorial in The National, Tarek Coury calls for the collection and dissemination of accurate economic data in order to inform better policy and decision making. 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=176 By showing how cultural composition, a frequently studied structural aspect of multicultural teams, moderates the relationship between teamwork process and performance in these teams, this paper both challenges previously-held assumptions about creativity and team process and contributes to the literature in multicultural teams. This is the second substantial revision of DSG Working Paper 09-07. 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=175 Several factors continue to block the potential of ICTs to create a culture of innovation in the Arab world; namely, access to and utilization of ICT tools; Internet censorship; and the failure of educational institutions to teach innovation and entrepreneurship skills. This brief explores these factors and their implications for the creation of a culture of innovation and youth empowerment across the Arab region, with a focus on the GCC region and the UAE specifically. 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=174 This paper argues that violent events have two economic effects: a direct loss from the destruction of physical and human capital, and a reallocation of financial and economic resources. It documents the positive cross-border impact that follows violent events as a result of this reallocation. Thus, it reconciles the two existing perspectives in the literature on whether violence has a small or large economic effect. 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=173 "How the cohort of over 110 million young Arabs deals with its predicament will be the main driver of the overall condition of the Arab world in the coming half century." 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=171 "How the cohort of over 110 million young Arabs deals with its predicament will be the main driver of the overall condition of the Arab world in the coming half century." 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=172 This paper traces the regional history of the Gulf, along with the presence of a continuum of European powers, and then focuses more closely on Dubai’s relationship with the British and how this both influenced and determined the emerging sheikdom’s urban development through oil discovery. 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=170 This policy brief outlines three policy options that Gulf Arab governments can consider to address the shortage. First, raise prices. Second, retrofit buildings for energy efficiency. Third, ban inefficient air conditioners and other appliances. The brief discusses the political obstacles involved in raising prices and eliminating a key subsidy used by governments to maintain domestic support. It concludes by recommending a policy of gradual price hikes and government-backed retrofitting of buildings. 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=168 In this op-ed, Fatma Abdulla calls for reforms in the UAE federal higher education system to address issues of duplication, program relevance and student dropout rates. 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=169 This working paper compares health spending with health outcomes over an 11 year period in eastern Mediterranean countries, finding an overall correlation between increased spending and improved outcomes. 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=166 Racha Mourtada outlines the findings of a recent e-government conference and suggests ways that ICT can further strengthen good governance efforts in the region. 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=167 This policy brief outlines the role of financial integration, globalization and widening global imbalances in leading to the current financial crisis. It calls for a move away from the US dollar as the central world reserve currency, and for a "new global financial architecture to gradually reduce global imbalances and move towards a more sustainable international financial system." 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=165 This working paper uses survey and interview data to attempt to explain the wide variation in the success of Islamist parties across the Arab world. 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=162 Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi critiques a recent decision to boost pay for nationals in the public sector in light of efforts to boost Emirati employment in the private sector. 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=160 This working paper explores the UAE’s strategies in obtaining foreign nuclear assistance to uncover the generalizable insights that may be of use to other Middle Eastern countries seeking to develop peaceful nuclear programs. 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=161 This brief examines the meaning of the term “curriculum,” the history of curriculum development in the UAE, the role of various agencies and ministries in current initiatives, and the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead on the road of reform. It concludes with recommendations for policy makers on how to implement sustainable curriculum reform that will engage all stakeholders in the process. 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=157 This article examines the legal and political impediments to the Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) exploration and production contracts, which the central government in Baghdad has refused to recognize. 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=158 This paper studies the impact of civil conflict on the structure of the economy. Conflict reduces the share of the manufacturing sector in the GDP, increases the exploitation of some simple natural resources (i.e. forestry) and reduces the production of crops. Using industrial level data for developing countries we study the channels through which conflict affects the manufacturing sector. As expected, we find that industries that are more institutional/transaction intensive are the ones that suffer most in conflictive societies. Labour-intensive sectors are also negatively affected by conflict. It is also found that exporting industries and sectors requiring external financing suffer more during conflict. Our results are robust to sensitivity analysis and have implications for post conflict policies. 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=159 In this editorial published in The National, Natasha Ridge surveys the landscape of Arabic language instruction and calls for more active, dynamic engagement in the learning process. 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=178 In an editorial in Thursday’s The National, Susan Crotty explains why companies who focus exclusively on financials at the expense of their human capital are playing with fire. 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=156 This paper shows that in incomplete markets, regardless of traders’ discount factors, the market selects for a range of beliefs, at least some of which do not merge with the truth. 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=153 In an editorial in The National, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi emphasizes the value of the "Dubai model" to the region, noting the centrality of high quality public administration. 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=155 Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi writes in The Financial Times that Dubai has a chance to emerge from the crisis "leaner, meaner and better." 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=154 This paper uses the life cycle approach to identify the pathways through which youth are excluded, focusing on processes of exclusion in educational attainment, livelihood and family formation. The structure of this paper is as follows: the study starts by analyzing the context of youth exclusion, followed by a detailed outline of the aforementioned life cycle stages. The study then concludes by discussing policies that affect youth and by recommending ways for policymakers to promote youth inclusion in the future. Yemen’s twin deficits in human development and natural resources underscore the urgent need for greater development assistance to Yemen. 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=163 This paper integrates literatures on value congruence and team performance with cultural values research to offer a new approach to teamwork process and creativity in teams. 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=152 This brief analyzes the changed American approach toward engagement with the Muslim world, calls for a robust policy of US engagement with a variety of actors in the Muslim world—including Islamist parties and grassroots organizations—and outlines the changing dynamic between mainstream Islamist/nationalist groups and the "radical paradigm" as exemplified by al-Qa’ida. 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=150 Generation in Waiting: The Unfulfilled Promise of Young People in the Middle East (Brookings Press, 2009), edited by Navtej Dhillon and Tarik Yousef, represents three years of research on youth exclusion in the Middle East. 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=164 This study illustrates the implications of taking cultural diversity as a given in multicultural teams and focusing on how teamwork process can facilitate creativity. The findings have key implications for organizations, as teams serve as the organizational workhorses of today’s global companies, creativity translates into company profits, and many companies utilize multicultural teams. 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=148 In Saturday’s The National, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi calls for the Federal National Council (FNC) to play a more prominent and visible role in the UAE. 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=149 This paper provides an empirical assessment of economic diversification in the GCC for the period 1980–2005. In particular, the authors assess whether oil and natural gas revenues, government policies and foreign flows of labor have contributed to greater economic diversification, proxied by real growth in non-hydrocarbon GDP per worker. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper that analyzes economic diversification in the Gulf using panel data techniques that explicitly treat the GCC as an economic block. 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=151 In Saturday’s The National, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi castigates the Arab media for circulating the "noise" of unfounded rumors about the UAE. 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=146 In this commentary piece, Dubai Initiative Research Fellow Djavad Salehi-Isfahani questions the efficacy of international sanctions in response to the Iranian nuclear program. 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=147 Based on analysis of ICT initiative strategic positioning and the framework adopted by the Dubai eGovernment eServices Division until the end of 2008, this brief proposes a flexible strategic positioning tool in the form of a grid that facilitates creating trade-offs between effectiveness (customer focus) vis-à-vis efficiency (productivity) as the two main strategic dimensions. 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=145 Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi lauds the growth of indigenous animated cartoons in the Gulf, and describes their contribution to strengthening national identity. 06 Sep 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=144 This brief focuses on the "political empowerment" sub-index of the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index in order to provide recommendations on how to achieve a more gender-balanced political environment within the United Arab Emirates. 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=143 This brief examines current trends in gender and education in the UAE, outlining why a gender gap which adversely affects males should be of concern to policy makers in the UAE and the region at large. 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=142 Within a span of less than four decades, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has undergone an impressive transformation from a small desert economy depending on pearl trading and fishing to an "oasis of opportunity" with booming economic sectors such as real estate and construction, tourism and hospitality, mass communications, shipping and logistics, retail and finance. The UAE’s economic miracle epitomizes the success of an innovative state-led capitalist growth model. 29 Aug 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=141 Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi urges Arab states to reestablish ties with Iraq in an editorial in The Guardian’s Comment is Free site. 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=140 Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi urges Arab states to reestablish ties with Iraq in an editorial in The Guardian’s Comment is Free site. 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=137 This paper seeks to situate the UAE’s Foreign Policy and Overseas Development Assistance trajectory in the context of the increasingly dynamic fragile states discourse 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=138 In an editorial in Thursday’s issue of Gulf Business, Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi explains why "there’s no time to start a business like a recession." 06 Aug 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=136 Tarek Coury analyzes recent data regarding inflation and money supply in the UAE, arguing in Sunday’s Khaleej Times that the dirham’s peg to the dollar helps to ensure macroeconomic stability. 02 Aug 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=139 In an editorial in Tuesday’s The National, Susan Crotty encourages a closer look at how implementing smarter policies for the disabled can benefit Dubai through greater productivity and innovation. 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=135 In an editorial in the Khaleej Times, Tarek Khoury sheds light on the latest discussions centered on shifting to a global reserve currency whereby the US dollar would no longer be the dominant currency. 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=134 In his Op-Ed for The National, Khalid Al Yahya argues for organizational development and governance reforms to fill human resource gaps in the GCC. 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=133 Victor Pineda published an Op-Ed in The National, in which he argues for the implementation of UAE’s Federal Law No 29, which aims to integrate people with disabilities into mainstream society. 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=132 In his latest Op-Ed for Khaleej Times, Tarek Coury discusses de-leveraging in the real estate and stock market and the possible effects of deflation in the UAE. 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=131 The Dubai School of Government (DSG) and the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) organised the 10th International Conference of the IFIP 9.4 working group on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries in Dubai, United Arab Emirates between 26-28 May 2009, under the theme of "Assessing the Contribution of Information and Communication Technologies to Development Goals." 26 May 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=129 Tarek Coury explores the consequences of the UAE’s recent decision to withdraw from Gulf monetary union in an editorial published in The Khaleej Times. 25 May 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=130 A conference entitled “Gender and Economics in MENA: From Theory to Policy Making” was held on November 16-17, organized and hosted by the Dubai School of Government in partnership with the Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) and the World Bank. These conference proceedings include summaries of the presentations given during this conference. Over 130 scholars, policy makers, media and NGO representatives from throughout the region attended the conference. The aim of the conference was to bring together a network of academics, researchers and policy makers from the Arab region and the Gulf, to contribute to the debate about the challenges and opportunities of producing and disseminating research on gender and public policy in the Arab world. 25 May 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=128 In an editorial in Monday’s issue of The National, Natasha Ridge explains why governments have an important role to play in private education. 21 May 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=127 This report, based on three years of research, provides a framework for addressing the economic challenges facing young people in the Middle East. 17 May 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=126 In an editorial in The National, Fatma Abdulla argues that a shift in health policy will reduce the prevalence of "lifestyle diseases" which disproportionately target women. 06 May 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=125 This report examines and interprets Dubai’s 2007 results in light of assessed contextual factors in an attempt to locate the determinants of Dubai’s relatively low achievement. The aim is to enable policy makers to understand which facets of the educational landscape in Dubai are in need of reform, and what elements of reform are called for in order to elevate learning to desired outcomes. 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=124 An important strand of the economics literature has recently paid attention to the study of psychological biases that lead individuals to undersave, procrastinate or, in general, display a present-bias in their decision making. 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=123 DSG Nonresident Fellow Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi lays out Abu Dhabi’s case to host the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in an editorial in The National. 19 Apr 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=122 This brief explores the reasons behind the UAE’s score and ranking on the health and survival sub-index of the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index. It also provides recommendations on how the UAE can further decrease the gender gap in healthcare. 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=121 In an Op-Ed in Sunday’s Khaleej Times, Tarek Coury explains why the UAE Central Bank’s decision to re-peg the dirham to the US dollar is fundamentally sound. 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=120 MEYI Policy Outlook 2, March 2009, Nader Kabbani This policy outlook examines how public sector employment policies in Syria affect the transition from school to work for young people. Framed within the context of Syria’s transition from a command economy to a social market economy, the analysis highlights how the country’s traditional socioeconomic model still holds sway and drives employment preferences among youth. Despite the country’s effort to shift away from government interventions to private sector solutions, incentives in the public sector – higher wages, benefits, pension coverage, and job security – continue to reinforce preferences among youth for public sector employment. The policy outlook concludes with a set of recommendations to aid Syria’s transition and create new opportunities for young people. 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=116 In February the UAE launched a nationwide energy sustainability campaign under the name, "Heroes of the UAE". Developed in conjunction with the Emirates Wildlife Society, the WorldWide Fund for Nature and the Environmental Agency-Abu Dhabi, the campaign’s goal is to seismically reduce the high carbon footprint and energy consumption by UAE nationals and a multitude of expatriates and foreign visitors. The "Heroes" campaign could not have been born at a better historical moment. 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=117 In this report, the authors analyze the results of a survey conducted by the Dubai School of Government to explore concepts pertaining to collaboration in the context of the UAE government, and to probe perspectives of citizens working in the public sector. The report, sponsored by Cisco Systems, Inc., specifically examines the impact of trust on collaboration in the UAE government, and explores enablers of and barriers to better collaboration. 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=119 This report details the results of an independent study jointly supported by the Dubai School of Government and the Ministry for Federal National Council Affairs. Through surveys and interviews of male and female candidates who stood in the 2006 FNC elections, the study provides specific policy recommendations on how to improve women’s political participation in future elections. 01 Mar 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=115 In an op-ed in Thursday’s The National, Natasha Ridge asks why major investments in education have not produced desired results in GCC countries, and calls for more research to inform policy decisions. 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=114 Tarek Coury examines factors influencing the valuation of currencies, including the UAE dirham, in an editorial in Monday’s Khaleej Times. 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=113 In Tuesday’s The National, DSG Executive President Nabil Alyousuf and Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director of the Emirates Wildlife Society calls for the UAE to develop “One Planet Leadership” for environmental sustainability. 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=112 This brief assesses the effect of affirmative action policies on voter attitudes and electoral outcomes, focusing on a study done in West Bengal, India 01 Feb 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=111 This working paper highlights contemporary research on the important issue of the link between cultural values and perceptions and management practices. It emphasizes the need for matching new structural arrangements with national and local cultures or subcultures to avoid conflict with ethnic, religious or cultural interests; this requires the attention of central governments in assigning responsibilities and resources. 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=108 In Thursday’s Khaleej Times, DSG Assistant Professor Tarek Coury calls for the UAE to diversify its economy more into high value-added economic activities in the non-oil sector. 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=109 An editorial by Ashraf Meraj in The National newspaper commends the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority and posits further steps to improve transparency and accountability. 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=107 Visiting Researcher Mike Helal measures Dubai’s strengths and weaknesses in a global education benchmarking examination in an opinion piece published in Thursday’s Gulf News. 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=106 This policy brief tries to identify what can be done to further strengthen the legal and judicial independence of the Dubai International Financial Centre in order to better attract foreign investment. 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=102 In an opinion piece in The National newspaper, DSG Research Fellow Asim Ijaz Khwaja, David Clingingsmith and Michael Kremer recount the findings of their study of Pakistani hajj pilgrims, showing that while the hajj leads to greater religious orthodoxy, it also bolsters the desire for peace and tolerance toward others, including non-Muslims. 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=103 This brief examines the role of housing policy reforms in curbing delays in marriage for young men by increasing access to housing and reducing the need for large capital outlays for initial housing upon marriage. The authors present evidence that the long-term trend of rising age of marriage among young men in Egypt has been reversed in recent years. The analysis shows that this observed decline is in part due to housing policy reforms introduced in 1996. The assessment concludes with a discussion of implications for policy makers in promoting access to affordable housing and reducing waithood for young men. 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=101 The Middle East and North Africa region has experienced some of the highest population growth rates observed in the world since 1950. 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=96 Tarek Coury provides a perspective on UAE monetary policy in light of the recent global financial crisis. 19 Oct 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=100 States comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council have expressed an intent to form a monetary union in 2010. The planned union follows a policy of intraregional economic and financial integration and was formulated shortly after the creation of the GCC in 1981. 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=97 This working paper has been submitted as a chapter in Gender Perspectives on Human Security, edited by Rosalind Boyd. 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=98 Rising oil prices and increased investment have spurred economic growth in the Middle East. At the same time, about one-third of the region’s population is now between the ages of 15 and 29. This confluence of economic growth and millions of youth ready to hit the job market could be a recipe for prosperity. However, young people are encountering numerous obstacles: with one quarter of Middle Eastern youth unemployed, they are unlikely to be able to afford housing, access credit, or get married and start a family. 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=99 Christine Assaad argues that the UAE can improve its international economic competitiveness by more effectively utilizing the potential of the country’s women. In an opinion piece published in The National, she outlines ways to boost gender parity in the economic, educational, health and political spheres, while emphasizing the need for more accurate statistical information. 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=90 In an opinion piece in The National, DSG Research Associate Habiba Hamid asserts that the UAE can use the creation of the new Aid Coordination Office as a chance to introduce "an unheard of level of ‘soft’ power to create goodwill around the globe at the same time as examining the impact of its interventions." 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=91 The utility maximization theory of migration is well established as the prevailing approach in migration studies. This paper extends the model by introducing uncertainty in the determinants of utility, specifically income and unemployment; and analyzes the effects of the informational advantages of migrants in dealing with such uncertainty. 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=93 Director of External Affairs and Communication Hafed Al-Ghwell outlines the ways in which an effective and capable public administration that implements sound public policy provides a strategic advantage leading some countries to greater success. 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=82 DSG Executive President Nabil Alyousuf argues for educational reform, revised labor policies and more emphasis on entrepreneurship as ways to take advantage of a demographic bulge in the Middle East. 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=83 The literature of political development has long advocated the importance of integrating the rural countryside into mainstream political institutions. This paper argues that rural incorporation is best understood within the context of pro-peasant policy innovations targeting specific constituencies in an electorate. 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=94 The health sector in Egypt suffers from a severe shortage of qualified nurses (nurses with at least two years of post high school nursing education) and a much less apparent perceived/real shortage of all-type of nurses. 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=60 On May 26-28, 2008, the Global Development Network and the Dubai School of Government jointly hosted a two-day development workshop entitled "Bridging Research and Policy." The workshop aimed to initiate a dialogue among a select group of experts with the objective of strengthening the policy relevance and influence of research. 31 May 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=194 In an opinion piece in The National, DSG Research Associate Huda Sajwani urges UAE youth to take advantage of a wide variety of opportunities available to them in the areas of education, entrepreneurship and other areas: "If we can capitalize on the opportunities that have been presented to us … we shall be able to achieve the same kind of success as our parents and grandparents." 25 May 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=84 This paper studies delegation of monetary policy to an independent but accountable Central Banker. 01 May 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=61 We estimate the impact on pilgrims of performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Our method compares successful and unsuccessful applicants in a lottery used by Pakistan to allocate Hajj visas. 01 May 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=62 While the Middle East is experiencing its best economic performance in three decades, the region also finds itself endowed with an unprecedented “youth bulge.” With the highest proportion of youth to adults in the region’s history, the “youth bulge” offers a vast pool of human capital that must be tapped in order to sustain economic growth. 01 May 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=66 As Dubai embarks on the Dubai World Central (DWC) project in parallel with its Urban Development Framework plan, it is instructive to review similar moments in the Emirate’s past when large-scale infrastructural projects generated formal changes in the metropolitan area. 01 May 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=89 The State of the Region (SOR) Forum is an annual event bringing together key public and private sector representatives—including top policy makers, executives, and thought leaders from the United Arab Emirates and neighboring Gulf countries—with a select group of leading experts. The event provides a unique opportunity to examine and analyze key trends and critical developments affecting the Arab world. 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=104 This working paper is a revised manuscript submitted on February 6, 2008 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=63 This publication presents: 1) the proceedings of the regional High Level Seminar on Measuring and Evaluating E-Government (12 March 2007, Dubai), and of the 3rd Meeting of Working Group 2 on E-Government and Administrative Simplification (13 March 2007, Dubai); and, 2) the initial results of the analysis of country papers submitted by Arab countries as background to the seminar. 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=76 In "Challenges to Democracy in the Twenty-First Century," Francis Fukuyama examined the global trend toward democracy that emerged in the last two decades of the twentieth century, factors driving it, and the challenges posed by globalization, poverty and technology. 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=105 In his internationally syndicated opinion column, DSG Research Fellow Rami Khouri urges the people and leaders of Dubai to define what "their new urbanism can now contribute to the rest of the world in the realm of ideas, knowledge, culture, and universal human norms". 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=88 In a January 10-16 opinion piece in Al-Ahram, DSG Research Fellow Manal Jamal urges US President Bush to understand that "dignity needs to be restored to Palestinian lives, and that international law and UN resolutions must be the centerpiece of any peace process." 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=85 In an editorial in the January 12 Gulf News, DSG Executive President Nabil Alyousuf writes about the importance of focusing attention on youth inclusion and promoting policies to unlock the potential of the Middle East’s "greatest asset." 13 Jan 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=86 This policy brief examines the relationship between globalization and results-based government, and how global processes and trends have affected the public sector in Arab states. 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=57 As electronic government initiatives continue to gain global momentum, interest in benchmarking various aspects of e-government is expanding rapidly. 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=64 Integrating multiple theoretical perspectives, we propose and test a model of human capital resource utilization at the organizational level in public sector in Saudi Arabia and Oman (N=540). 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=65 In an op-ed piece published in the December 7, 2007 issue of Arab News, DSG Research Fellow May Al-Dabbagh addresses the Qatif rape case and calls for a more inclusive definition of human security based on a transparent regulatory legal framework. 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=87 Dhillon and Yousef present a snapshot preview of the Initiative’s integrated framework for analysis in “Inclusion: Meeting the 100 Million Youth Challenge." 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=67 The Middle East today is a very youthful region, due to the consequences of the demographic transition. As mortality declined and life spans rose, youthful cohorts are now marrying later in life. Delayed marriage has become the norm, particularly for men who may not marry until their late twenties or thirties. The political and economic context of delayed marriage is causing debate and controversy in the Muslim world, since early and universal marriage had been the norm and sexuality had been linked to marriage. 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=68 Most typically, analyses of youth have employed either the neo-classical economic framework of human capital or the socio-demographic framework of lifecourse research in the Middle East. While both have produced important findings and insights, their focus on supply-side processes of individuals is limited. The role of institutions on the supply side is especially important in understanding youth disadvantage in the Middle East. 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=69 Egypt is at a stage in its demographic transition with a marked "youth bulge," a period in which the proportion of youth in the population is increasing significantly compared to other age groups. Ragui Assaad and Ghada Barsoum look closely at youth in Egypt with the lens of exclusion as a guiding conceptual framework. The crux of the exclusion framework is that while some experience a successful transition to jobs, financial stability and personal independence with the ability to form families of their own; others experience unemployment; end up with dead-end low-paying jobs, and defer forming families due to the high financial costs of this important life transition in Egypt. 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=70 Using conceptual frameworks relating to social exclusion literature and life transitions, the inclusion of youth and their successful transition to adulthood is analyzed in this paper by looking at three dimensions: acquiring skills for productive employment, finding a job and setting up a family. 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=71 Currently, the age structure of the Moroccan population is characterized by the predominance of youth aged 15-24. The share of youth in the population grew from about 17 percent in 1971 to a little over 21 percent in 2004. This "youth bulge" is regarded as one of the main causes of unemployment because the number of jobseekers is increasing much faster than the number of jobs that the economy can create. While this argument may seem legitimate in light of the current economic context, a youth bulge should naturally be considered a "demographic gift." By building the human capital of young workers and providing them with opportunities to use their skills, Morocco can increase incomes per capita, bolster savings and improve social welfare. 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=72 A combination of factors contributes to actual or potential economic exclusion of young people in Syria. This paper focuses on three of them: economic, social, and institutional. Instead of drawing attention to the multidimensionality of youth economic exclusion, our paper highlights the interaction among the contributing factors. We suggest that multiple risk factors associated with youth economic exclusion add to one another so that they have a stronger cumulative effect than they would individually. 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=73 On November 8, 2007, the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and the Dubai School of Government brought together scholars and international experts to focus on the dynamics of economic and political transformation in the Middle East. 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=92 Conference Paper submitted to the First National Conference of E-Government in Syria, Damascus, Syria, June 16-19, 2007 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=74 Conference Paper submitted to the Seventh UN Global Forum on Reinventing Government, Vienna, Austria, June 26-29, 2007 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=75 Published by the World Economic Forum, the Report provides an in-depth assessment of competitiveness of economies in the Arab world vis-à-vis the rest of the world, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of individual countries while offering a tool for assessing the efficiency of measures taken and overall progress. 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=81 The Arab Regional Forum on Innovations in Governance was designed to provide a platform for interactive dialogue between practitioners, scholars and policymakers to learn and build knowledge through a mutual exchange of experience and ideas. 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=79 A Brief on the First Arab Regional Forum on Innovations in Governance 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=80 During the recent oil boom, the MENA region has seen job creation accelerate. 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=59 On September 9, 2006, the Dubai School of Government brought together Dubai government leaders and international experts to discuss several key dynamics affecting the Arab world. 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=77 In April 2006, Arab government leaders and experts active in the field of public sector reform in the Arab world met in Dubai. 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00:000 GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=78 In this editorial, Theodore Karasik and Wayne James highlight the growing importance of food security as a public policy issue for countries of the GCC. GMT http://www.dsg.ae//En/Publication/Description.aspx?PrimenuID=11&PrimenuID=11&mnu=Cat&PubID=189