Articles
CommentThe future of digital money lies in striking the right balance
The 19th-century US taught us that decentralised money can be unstable. The 20th century taught us that centralised money can be politically captured. We must avoid the worst of both worlds
CommentThe GCC summit in Bahrain had echoes of the 1815 Vienna Congress
Two centuries ago, Vienna reshaped Europe by marrying unity with strategic foresight. The GCC’s 2025 summit hints at a similar possibility for the Gulf
CommentWhat Gulf countries can borrow from the Venice playbook
There is already much in common between the GCC states today and the Italian city-state during the Middle Ages
War is terrible – especially for countries that haven’t planned their finances
Post-conflict countries have plenty of lessons to offer about the economic costs of war
CommentEconomics Nobel is a timely reminder of the importance of growth
The best solution to economic injustices is to increase the size of the pie
CommentWhy your child doing poorly at school may have nothing to do with low motivation
A precise understanding of student performance is critical for the success of educational reform in the region
CommentHow the Gulf became a trusted trade partner
Western volatility is pushing more nations towards solidifying economic networks with reliable, like-minded countries
Lessons from Napoleon on how economic warfare can seriously backfire
Using countries' economies to force them to do what you want was hard enough in the 19th century – today, it's even harder
CommentAre big tech's attention algorithms undermining focus during prayer?
To preserve its traditions, the Islamic world needs more research on smart phones and scrolling culture
CommentHow data centres could help the Gulf meet its climate targets
If policymakers embrace a strategic view of electricity demand management, flexible data centres can become powerful enablers of a greener grid
CommentThe UAE's new sugar tax policy could be a handy arrow in its quiver
This is a step towards addressing critical public health challenges
CommentHow poetry can help us understand the Gulf's economic history
In the absence of reliable macroeconomic data, academics should consider using a new AI-aided research technique
Gulf job seekers in occupations with poor prospects need formal guidance
A system to direct aspirants away from dwindling government jobs would be a results-oriented and cost-effective exercise
Comment'Gulf citizenship' is a powerful idea in a region growing stronger together
A recent decision by the region's six education ministers to introduce the idea into their curriculums is a sage one
AI is changing the future of research, but not in the way we think
The technology is already reviving the notion that humans remain the best tool for studying humans
