The Middle East (ME) is often perceived as region with rentier economies and uncompetitive markets. Evidence of market power in the region however is scant. In this paper, we ask the following three questions: Is the ME uniquely uncompetitive? Has the evolution of market power in the region...

This paper examines the current dependencies and exposures of the euro area's financial sector in a context of rising geopolitical tensions. Focusing on Russia, China, and the Middle East, we analyze direct exposures through lending and securities holdings of banks and large investors. Our...

This study investigates the impact of financial technology (Fintech) on bank stability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Utilizing panel data from 94 banks in 10 countries over a 13-year period from 2011 to 2023, this research employs panel GMM regression to examine the relationship...

Low investments in human development (HD) are both a cause and a consequence of economic performance and income growth. Thriving populations in knowledge societies are skilled, mobile, healthy, and connected. However, in most countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, human...

The financial sector holds major responsibility in climate mitigation, as the proliferation of environmental damage within the real economy largely stems from the negative externalities of the financial economy. Islamic banking, as a subset of the global financial market, is often adjudged as a...

In the wake of the US-China trade war and the increasing use of financial sanctions, global powers are rethinking the architecture of cross-border payments. The dominance of the US dollar and reliance on US-controlled systems like SWIFT have exposed the vulnerabilities of many countries,...