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Lebanon, Syria and Jordan

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Levant Outlook Update: Threatened by Political Turmoil

The precarious political situation and slump in capital inflows and tourism will keep the region growing below trend, with close to zero growth in Syria. Food and fuel subsidies will further stretch fiscal accounts, while infrastructure investment is on hold. FDI will be scarce due to eroded confidence, leaving the region increasingly reliant on aid.

Read the latest Levant Outlook Update

Economic Research

Mena Focus

Uprisings Not On the Backburner

By Ayah El Said, Maya Senussi, Rachel Ziemba and John Prosser Jul 14, 2011

Mena Focus

MENA Real Estate: Fallout From the Arab Spring

By Ayah El Said, Maya Senussi and Rachel Ziemba Jun 29, 2011

Global Economic Outlook

Middle East and North Africa Outlook Update: Politics Breed Divergence

By Ayah El Said and Rachel Ziemba Jun 17, 2011

Global Economic Outlook

Levant Outlook Update: Threatened by Political Turmoil

By Maya Senussi Jun 15, 2011

Mena Focus

Political Struggles and Stalemates

By Ayah El Said, Maya Senussi and Rachel Ziemba May 26, 2011

Mena Focus

Meeting MENA Financing Gaps

By Rachel Ziemba, Ayah El Said and Maya Senussi May 18, 2011

Global Economic Outlook

Middle East and North Africa Outlook: Dampened by Regional Unrest

By Ayah El Said and Rachel Ziemba Mar 18, 2011

Global Economic Outlook

Levant Outlook: Resilient to Regional Upheaval

By Maya Senussi and Rachel Ziemba Mar 17, 2011

Mena Focus

The Fiscal Side of Upheaval

By Rachel Ziemba, Ayah El Said and Maya Senussi Mar 10, 2011

Mena Focus

Economic Fallout From the MENA Days of Rage

By Rachel Ziemba, Maya Senussi and Ayah El Said Feb 23, 2011

Economic Research

Jordan: More of the Same, Though Protests Continue

By Rachel Ziemba Feb 23, 2011

Economic Research

Syria: Stable for Now, But Not Immune

By Maya Senussi Feb 23, 2011

Economic Research

A New Normal for Egypt?

By Rachel Ziemba and Ayah El Said Feb 9, 2011

Economic Research

Political Upheaval on the Nile: Four Risk-Laden Outcomes

By Michael Moran Feb 1, 2011

Economic Research

Egypt: Assessing the Ripple Effect

By Rachel Ziemba and Ayah El Said Feb 1, 2011

Economic Research

Jordan: Back to Loans Amid Protests

By Maya Senussi and Rachel Ziemba Jan 18, 2011

Economic Research

Lebanon: An Uncertain Future

By Maya Senussi Jan 18, 2011

Mena Focus

Fiscal Divergence Coming to MENA

By Rachel Ziemba, Maya Rusinowicz and Ayah El Said Jan 6, 2011

Economic Research

Levant: Slowly Consolidating

By Maya Senussi Jan 6, 2011

Mena Focus

Political Cycles Bring More of the Same?

By Ayah El Said, Maya Rusinowicz and Rachel Ziemba Dec 16, 2010

Economic Research

How Stable Is Lebanon’s Political Situation?

By Maya Senussi and Rachel Ziemba Dec 16, 2010

Economic Research

Jordan Elections Unlikely to Bring Meaningful Change

By Maya Senussi Dec 16, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Global Overview: 2011 Outlook

By Christian Menegatti, Nouriel Roubini and the RGE Macroeconomics Team Dec 7, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Middle East and North Africa: 2011 Outlook

By Ayah El Said and Rachel Ziemba Dec 7, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Levant: 2011 Outlook

By Maya Senussi, Ayah El Said and Rachel Ziemba Dec 7, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Macro Forecasts: 2011 Outlook

By the RGE Macroeconomics Team Dec 7, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Middle East and North Africa: September 2010 Outlook Update

By Rachel Ziemba and Ayah El Said Sep 10, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Levant: September 2010 Outlook Update

By Maya Senussi, Rachel Ziemba and Ayah El Said Sep 10, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Global Overview: September 2010 Outlook Update

By Nouriel Roubini, Christian Menegatti and the RGE Macroeconomic Team Sep 10, 2010

Mena Focus

Power Shortages Plague MENA

By Maya Rusinowicz and Rachel Ziemba Sep 1, 2010

Economic Research

MENA Focus: Fearing a Food Crisis

By Ayah El Said, Maya Senussi and Rachel Ziemba Aug 18, 2010

Economic Research

MENA Focus: Grasping for a New Normal for MENA Credit

By Rachel Ziemba, Ayah El Said and Maya Senussi Aug 4, 2010

Economic Research

MENA Focus: Impact of the Eurozone Debt Crisis

By Ayah El Said and Rachel Ziemba Jul 26, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Q3 2010 Outlook

By Ayah El Said and Rachel Ziemba Jul 10, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Levant: Q3 2010 Outlook

By Rachel Ziemba, Ayah El Said and Maya Senussi Jul 10, 2010

Economic Research

Obama’s Hand of Friendship: A Rogues’ Gallery of Mixed Results

By Michael Moran Apr 14, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Levant: Q2 2010 Outlook

By Rachel Ziemba, Ayah El Said and Maya Senussi Apr 12, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Jordan: Q1 2010 Outlook

By Ayah El-Said Jan 30, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Lebanon: Q1 2010 Outlook

By Ayah El-Said Jan 30, 2010

Global Economic Outlook

Syria: Q1 2010 Outlook

By Rachel Ziemba and Ayah El-Said Jan 30, 2010

Economic Research

The Levant Economic Outlook, Q4 2009

By Ayah El-Said Oct 7, 2009

Economic Research

The Levant Economic Outlook, Q3 2009

By Ayah El-Said Jul 24, 2009

EconoMonitors

The Kapali Carsi

Addendum to Hurriyet column: Arab spring, Turkish fall

Emre Deliveli Jul 4, 2011

The Kapali Carsi

Weekly Hurriyet column: Arab spring, Turkish fall

Emre Deliveli Jul 4, 2011

Last Days of Rome

MENA Unmasks the ‘Stability’ Myth

Michael Moran Jun 27, 2011

Geostrategy Channel

Why the Syrian Army Kills for the Assad Clan

Marvin Zonis Jun 27, 2011

Geostrategy Channel

Secularism Is Out; Islam Is In

Marvin Zonis Apr 11, 2011

Geostrategy Channel

Geopolitical Unrest and World Oil Markets

James Hamilton Jan 30, 2011

Geostrategy Channel

MENA: More than 18 Million Jobs Needed!

Masood Ahmed Nov 1, 2010

Global Macro Channel

Lowering Public Debt

Harald Finger & Azim Sadikov Jun 25, 2010

Nouriel Roubini's Global EconoMonitor

A Global Tsunami

Nouriel Roubini Apr 22, 2010

Global Macro Channel

Resilient Lebanon Defies Odds In Face of Global Crisis

Harald Finger & Carlo Sdralevich Aug 14, 2009

Daily Digest

Blogs

How Brave Is Qatar?

Council on Foreign Relations  Elliott Abrams Aug 26, 2011

Analysis

Iraq Adopts Iran's Backing of Assad

Iran Primer  Juan Cole Aug 24, 2011

News

Syria economy hit by demos but still standing: experts

Daily Star  Sammy Ketz Aug 25, 2011

Blogs

Interventionists Versus Non-Interventionists

Syria Comment  Joshua Landis Aug 24, 2011

News

Syria’s Banks: Boom or Bubble?

Al Akhbar  Aug 24, 2011

Analysis

The Dictator's Survival Guide

Council on Foreign Relations  Micah Zenko Aug 22, 2011

News

Oil trade links to Syria cut ahead of embargo

Financial Times  Javier Blas and Sylvia Pfeifer Aug 24, 2011

Opinions

Assad Knows What He's Doing

National Interest  Gary C. Gambill Aug 24, 2011

Blogs

Libya and Syria – Looking Over Our Shoulder

Syria Comment  Joshua Landis Aug 23, 2011

News

Lebanon Safer Than Dubai on Loaded Local Lenders: Arab Credit

Bloomberg  Alaa Shahine and Dana El Baltaji Aug 22, 2011

News

UN faces call for sanctions against Syria as protesters taunt Assad

Independent  Richard Hall Aug 23, 2011

Analysis

Next Steps in Libya (Egypt, Tunisia, and Other States with New Regimes

Center for Strategic and International Studies  Anthony H. Cordesman Aug 22, 2011

Analysis

Are western sanctions against Syria an option?

Open Democracy  Islam Qasem Aug 17, 2011

News

Jordan goes Morocco

Foreign Policy  Sean Yom Aug 19, 2011

Blogs

Sanctions and Their Impact; The Opposition Forms Transitional Parliament

Syria Comment  Joshua Landis Aug 20, 2011

News

UK Plays Down Syria Oil Ban Proposal

Independent  Gavin Cordon Aug 20, 2011

News

U.S. and Allies Say Syria Leader Must Step Down

The New York Times  Steven Lee Myers Aug 18, 2011

Opinions

Calling for Regime Change in Syria

Council on Foreign Relations  Robert Danin Aug 18, 2011

Opinions

Syria: the Cost of Crisis

Oriental Review  Vladislav Gulevich Aug 17, 2011

Analysis

The Economic Consequences of Syria's Social Unrest

Carnegie Middle East Center  Lahcen Achy Aug 17, 2011

News

World Leaders Urge Assad to Resign

Wall Street Journal  Laurence Norman, Nour Malas and Jay Soloman Aug 19, 2011

News

EU Urges Syria's Assad To Quit, Mulls Energy Sanctions

Dow Jones Newswire  Laurence Norman Aug 18, 2011

Opinions

Syria: Assad at bay

Guardian  Aug 18, 2011

News

Jordan awaits loan from World Bank next month

Zawya  Omar Obeidat Aug 18, 2011

News

Indictment in Hariri Assassination Is Published

New York Times  Nada Bakri Aug 17, 2011

Opinions

Khamenei won't support Assad to the end

Guardian  Meir Javedanfar Aug 13, 2011

News

Lebanon: Gross public debt sees marginal drop in 2011

The Daily Star  Tamara Qiblawi Aug 18, 2011

News

Syria's Assad says military operations halted

Reuters  Aug 18, 2011

Opinions

Jordan’s Proposed Constitutional Amendments—A First Step in the Right Direction

Carnegie Endowment  Marwan Muasher Aug 17, 2011

Opinions

Cranking up Pressure on Syria

Council on Foreign Relations  Bernard Gwertzman Aug 16, 2011

News

Currency flight fears mount in Syria

Financial Times  Aug 16, 2011

Opinions

Syria: Crisis May Hurt Economies of Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq

Carnegie Middle East Center  Ibrahim Saif Aug 13, 2011

Analysis

Re-Examining the Arab Spring

Stratfor  George Friedman Aug 17, 2011

Opinions

Saudi Arabia Moves to Take Down Syria, Iran and Hezbollah

National Interest  Bruce Riedel Aug 16, 2011

News

Syrian Forces Seal Off Port City of Latakia

Bloomberg  Vivian Salama Aug 16, 2011

Analysis

Iran banks all on Assad's survival

Asia Times Online  Mahan Abedin Aug 16, 2011

News

Iran agrees to fund Syrian military base

Telegraph  Aug 12, 2011

News

Iraqi Leader Backs Syria, With a Nudge From Iran

The New York Times  Michael S. Schmidt and Yasir Ghazi Aug 12, 2011

News

Syrian Navy Joins Attack on Key Rebellious Port City

New York Times  Anthony Shadid Aug 14, 2011

News

Clinton makes case for peaceful change in Syria

CBS News  Scott Pelley Aug 11, 2011

News

Syria: Unfriended

Economist  Aug 13, 2011

Opinions

Why the Syrian regime won't fall

Asia Times Online  Pepe Escobar Aug 12, 2011

Opinions

Saudi Arabia: Abdullah's Call

Alif Arabia  Aug 10, 2011

News

Inflation at 4.7% in first seven months

Jordan TImes  Aug 11, 2011

News

US tightens sanctions on Syria amid crackdown

BBC News  Aug 10, 2011

News

Lebanon safe from debt crisis fallout

The Daily Star  Osama Habib Aug 10, 2011

Blogs

Vague Thoughts on Arab Uprisings

The Moor Next Door  Aug 8, 2011

Analysis

MENA: Cloudy Q3 Outlook

Alif Arabia  Aug 9, 2011

Opinions

Iran's Irreversible Path in Syria

Payvand News  Dr. Ali Bigdeli Aug 9, 2011

Blogs

Syrian president unites international community in condemnation of his violence

The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer  James M. Dorsey Aug 08, 2011

News

Turkey to press Syria to end bloodshed

Associated Press  Aug 09, 2011

News

German politician calls for Syrian oil boycott

Now Lebanon  Aug 08, 2011

Opinions

The Arab spring is not a threat to Israel

Haaretz  Reuven Padatzur Aug 07, 2011

Blogs

New Coalition to Box in Assad Takes Shape. Iran’s Response Awaited

Syria Comment  Joshua Landis Aug 08, 2011

Opinions

Saudi Arabia's message to Syria, decoded

Guardian  Brian Whitaker Aug 08, 2011

Opinions

Syria: This slaughter will end only when words of condemnation are acted on

Independent  Robert Fisk Aug 09, 2011

Opinions

Assad is Dead, Long live Assad: The uncertain struggle for the new Syria

Majalla  Simona Sikimic Aug 08, 2011

Opinions

Bashar al-Assad is going down

Foreign Policy  Blake Hounshell Aug 08, 2011

News

Arab world turns on Assad and calls for end to wave of killings

Independent  Khalid Ali Aug 09, 2011

Opinions

Where's Syria's business community?

Foreign Policy  Randa Slim Aug 08, 2011

Analysis

Mid East Governments Pressure Assad to Stop Killing and Hand over Power

Syria Comment  Joshua Landis Aug 08, 2011

Opinions

Syria as a Battleground for Saudi Arabia and Iran

Stratfor  Aug 05, 2011

Opinions

Syria's Assad Should be an International Pariah

Brookings Institute  Salman Shaikh Aug 04, 2011

News

"Jordan’s GCC accession to start in September"

Jordan TImes  Aug 08, 2011

News

Syrian Protests Leave at Least 100 Dead

Bloomberg  Massoud A. Derhally Aug 08, 2011

Analysis

Commentary: Role of Arab militaries in popular uprisings

S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies   James M. Dorsey Aug 02, 2011

News

Lebanese bank assets in Syria fall by 8.4%

Daily Star  Aug 08, 2011

News

Saudi Arabia recalls ambassador to Syria

BBC News  Aug 08, 2011

News

Syrian Military Mounts Assault on Another City

The New York Times  Anthony Shadid Aug 07, 2011

News

Syrian forces press onslaught in Hama

Washington Post  Liz Sly Aug 04, 2011

News

Deposit growth fuels profits for Lebanese banks

Daily Star  Peter T. Daou Aug 04, 2011

Opinions

Syria And The Armed Gangs Controversy – Analysis

Syria Comment  Joshua Landia Aug 04, 2011

News

Syria: Bloodier Still

The Economist  Aug 06, 2011

Analysis

Syrian Unrest Raises Sectarian Tensions in Lebanon

Jamestown Foundation  Chris Zambelis Aug 04, 2011

News

Hague calls for Syria to end crackdown after UN statement

Guardian  Ed Pilkington Aug 04, 2011

News

New sanctions worry Turkish businessmen

Hurriyet  Gokhan Kurtaran Aug 02, 2011

News

Syria: History Repeating

Majalla  Aug 02, 2011

News

Syria's Assad decrees multi-party system

Agence France-Presse  Aug 04, 2011

Opinions

Why Damascus, Aleppo are silent for now

Gulf News  Sami Moubayed Aug 02, 2011

News

Syria:'Time to think about the day after Assad'

Financial Times  Anna Fifield Aug 02, 2011

News

International pressure mounts over Syria violence

Independent  Khalid Ali Aug 03, 2011