Since the start of 2022, Egypt has been facing a dire economic crisis with the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, the drying up of the foreign currency, and soaring inflation. Whereas the government blames the 2011 uprisings, COVID-19, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine for Egypt’s economic woes, the situation is far more complex. Decades of government mismanagement, failed export policies, and industrial development have created a persistent trade deficit. The tight control of the state and military-owned enterprises on the economy has depressed the private sector and limited foreign direct investment, creating severe foreign currency shortages. What does the future hold for Egypt’s economy? What are the long-term effects of the ongoing economic crisis on Egypt’s most vulnerable population? Is Egypt the new Lebanon? We discuss these questions and more with stellar experts and analysts. 

Moderator:

Marwa Shalaby, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Panelists:

Timothy Kaldas, Deputy Director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, and Adjunct Professor of International Relations at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

Mirette F. Mabrouk, MEI Senior Fellow and Founding Director of the Institute's Egypt Studies Program.