Report Launch: Economic Prospects and Policy Challenges for the Gulf Arab Countries

In partnership with the International Monetary Fund

On December 10, AGSIW partnered with the International Monetary Fund on the launch of its Gulf Cooperation Council report. This report examines the wide-ranging economic prospects and policy challenges for Gulf countries as they battle the far-reaching consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices that have resulted in a sharp deterioration of external and fiscal balances of Gulf Arab states.

How are regional governments confronting the challenging task of preparing 2021 budgets that continue to meet coronavirus-related health and economic needs amid serious fiscal constraints? When and how should Gulf governments wind down accommodative fiscal and monetary policies without disrupting the recovery process? What impact will fiscal consolidation have on efforts to strengthen private sector-led growth and job creation? How can Gulf governments make genuine progress in diversifying government revenue when many of the hardest-hit sectors of their economies are pillars of Gulf economic diversification efforts?

The views represented herein are the author's or speaker's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of AGSI, its staff, or its board of directors.