The Egyptian Cabinet IDSC

Modern Finance and the Transformation of Financial Systems: Key Considerations for Egypt in Light of the Global Crisis

This paper considers the impact of modern financial mechanisms on the transformation of financial systems from a political economy of finance standpoint in light of the global crisis. Over the last three decades, many financing practices were imported under financial liberalization, strengthening arms length market banking in Egypt, and transforming the processes, institutions, and relationships of financial intermediation to become more market-based. Taking into account the particularities of every country, the study analyzes whether such a transformation is (a) feasible and (b) desirable for Egypt. The first section of the paper analyzes the impacts of modern financing mechanisms on the financial system, the shift towards a market-based direction, and the repercussions on market economies pertinent to information gathering and risk assessment by new kinds of institutions- not necessarily suited to the institutional framework in developing countries like Egypt. The second section reviews the role of financial intermediaries and the theoretical challenges facing the modern lender-borrower relationships. The focus is on financialization of contemporary capitalism and the transformation of banks. The paper concludes that the spread of modern techniques has fostered changes in banking relationships to be more arms length and market-based. This transformation is not necessarily desirable for Egypt where access to finance by small and medium enterprises is an impediment to economic development. This raises questions on the optimal design of the financial system to enable prudently regulated access to finance as a key point for consideration.

Getting Better Value From Official Statistics by Increasing and Improving Their Use

Like most other countries, the Arab Republic of Egypt has a national statistics office called the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) that produces the usual range of key national economic indicators, population estimates and a range of social and cultural statistics. This paper suggests a number of approaches for providing better access to, and use of, these official statistics. The approaches include the provision of different levels of access to official data by different methods and ways of increasing statistical literacy. A particular focus of this paper is enabling, through education, the various groups in Egyptian society, from the general public through to expert Government advisors, to interpret and use official statistics. Specific suggestions include the promotion of statistics learning at schools, informal and formal training for targeted groups, such as businesses and local or national government advisors. Ways of maintaining the skills of national statistics office staff, including providing academic training, are also discussed. Increasing the statistical literacy skills of society in general will both increase the value that can be obtained from official statistics and extend their use in decision-making at all levels.

World Prices…. Where To?

This report aims to explore the facts and the main reasons that led to the change in global prices. The first section reviews the development of world records for commodity prices. The second section deals with changes in the world record for the year commodity prices, while the third section presents the factors that affect the prices of food and industrial commodities. The fourth section reviews the outlook for international prices of commodities (food and industrial).

Modeling Factors Affecting the Ownership of Fixed and Mobile Phones in Egypt

The telephone coverage in Egypt has rapidly changed through the last period. The number of mobile phone subscribers in Egypt has continued to grow whereas fixed phone subscribers have started to decline. This paper uses data from four rotated panel surveys, conducted by the Observatory of the Egyptian Household at the Information and Decision Support Center(IDSC), in July 2008, October 2008, January 2009 and April 2009. The structural change of telephone coverage in Egypt from July 2008 to April 2009 is also featured. In addition, the relationship between telephone coverage in April 2009 and several characteristics of households is examined.

Egyptian Cities .. The Features and Characteristics

The report aims to identify the most important features of the Egyptian cities and compare them with some of the world"s cities. During the last century the face of the Egyptian cities has changed as well as the pattern of urbanization. This change was not for the capital only, but extended to most large and small cities.

Evaluating the effect of mass media on awareness & reproductive health issues

Mass media is one of the main sources of thoughts at any society. Hence, this study aims to activate the mass media"s role in raising awareness of population problem and reproductive health issues, and to improve individuals" attitudes and behaviors towards these issues. This has been done through two main pillars: first, identifying the most acceptable mass media and media messages in society, second identifying the reproductive health issues, which still have not social acceptance, in order to increase media focus on it. The study relied on the third round of "performance of population media towards reproductive health issues and family planning" poll, which have been conducted by IDSC, Poll Center in May 2009. The results have shown that TV is the main source of knowledge about population problem and reproductive health issues, as well as it is the most favorable media. Press also plays a vital role in this area among individuals living in urban areas, having high educational level and high living standards, and among males. Talk shows come on top of favorite media messages, followed by advertisements and drama. Issues of circumcision and small family size are still controversies, with about half of the respondents agrees upon circumcision and reject small family.

Conditions of the Poor in Egypt

Poverty remains one of the main problems in Egypt and many countries in the world, as one of the main obstacles to development, so eradicating poverty a key priority in the concerns of decision makers and policy makers in Egypt. This report deals with definition of the concept of poverty and its forms, monitoring of poverty levels in Egypt and some countries in the world, the impact of poverty on the family of Egypt from the perspective of the demographic, educational, health conditions as well as living conditions such as belonging to the family and housing conditions, and the impact of poverty on the social and political value system on the Egyptian families. The report also addresses the views of the people of the poorest villages on the most important services and facilities that the Government must begin to develop in those villages.

Electronic Mass Communication in Egypt: Reality & Challenges

The electronic media is considered to be media of the future, its more effective in reaching out to audiences than the traditional media. So, this report aims to analyze the major features of social networks on the internet in Egypt; Facebook, YouTube and blogs, as well as use the internet as a media window to view online information, and lighting on the electronic media and television channels and radio stations transmitted via the Internet, and analyze the current status of the electronic media in Egypt, both in terms of revenue verified or challenges it faces.

Reducing the Deficit in the Egyptian Trade Balance in order to Contain the Effects of the Global Economic Crisis on the Egyptian Economy

The issue of reducing the chronic deficit in the Egyptian trade balance in order to contain the effects of the global economic crisis on the Egyptian economy is one of the important issues on the agenda of the policy-maker. In this context, the study aims to identify the pattern of change in the structure of merchandise imports during the period (1994 - 2007) and the reasons underlying the surge of imports that occurred during that period. We also considered the recent developments in the level and composition of import commodities in 2008 - June 2009, to capture the effects of the global economic crisis on the behavior and composition of imports. For more finetuning, we constructed the indices of the quantities and prices of major commodity groups during the period (1994 - 2007) (according to the Fisher formula). Light was also shed on the institutional aspects; namely; the monopolistic structure of import markets of the major commodity groups. Finally, the study proposed a set of policies for the rationalization of imports in the Egyptian economy in the short and medium terms.

Egypt.. On The March Of Development 2009

The Egyptian Cabinet"s Information and Decision Support Center released the third issue of the annual report "Egypt On The March Of Development", in the context of tracking the development march in Egypt.

What Do The Egyptians Read?

This report aims to highlight the trends of reading in Egypt in general, through an overview of the reading atmosphere in Egypt, in addition to monitoring the current status of reading by identifying the reading preferences of the Egyptian families, the types of the subjects they preferred to read, and identify the reasons for lack of turnout on reading some books, newspapers and magazines.

ِA Late Age of Marriage: Is it A Problem Need A Solution?

This report aims to provide an overview on the marriage rate in the Egyptian society and its evolution, the average age at marriage varies according to whether the place of residence, educational status and economic situation, and the views of young people around the optimal age for marriage.

Future of Political Parties in Israel (Issue 14)

This edition aimed at foreseeing the future of the Israeli Labor Party including the future of change in the partisan map in order to forecast the future rise of the right wing in Israel. It introduced as well a forecast for the orientation of Israeli public opinion, future of the party"s election base including kibbutz, Moshav, Histadrut and Arabs of 48, and the party"s internal problems covering the leadership and ideological crisis. Finally, the edition forecasts future of the overall left wing (Meretz and Peace Movements).

Introduction and Summary for the Report issued by RAND, Entitled: Shaping tomorrow today: near-term steps towards long-term goals

This study presents and analysis a report titled " Shaping Tomorrow Today: Near-Term Steps towards Long-Term Goals" published by the RAND Frederick S. Pardee Center for longer range global policy and the future human condition. The report summarizes the proceedings of a workshop held by the center during the period from 17 to 18 March 2009. The main goal of the workshop is to give policymakers and analysts an opportunity to explore tools to identify those cases in which a long-term view should have the most significant influence on near term decisions and to suggest the long term policy analyses that can most usefully inform these choices. The report refers to four main topics besides the overview which are long term decisions, education, international policy, and climate changes.

Talent and Talented: A Study on Prevalent Stereotype

The mental view that prevails in the society about the talent and talented is an important background to identify the educational societal limits that society sets, it also form an effective component in dealing with talented issues. From this point this study aims to identify that societal view, by depending on questionnaire conducted on a sample of respondents. The study found number of results about many definitions which society put to the talented, and the ways which it follow to discover talented people, the most important talented characteristics and the scientific knowledge of them from society viewpoint. In addition to identify the society perception to the different ways to care of talented and interested in them.

The Socio Demographic and personal characteristics of those who value imagination to encourage children to learn at home: a descriptive study in Egypt

This descriptive study based on the findings of a survey conducted by the IDSC where one of its objectives was to understand people"s perception on the qualities that children can be encouraged at home. The study defines imagination and lists the benefits from encouraging child"s imagination. Some of the recommendations of the study are; the role of the Family is crucial in the process of developing child imagination, Qualitative research is needed in studying imagination to address family and children perception of imagination. People need to know the importance of imagination, and how it can be useful for them, Education system need to be developed to stimulate the inside treasure of imagination of every child because children curiosity need to be feed.

What do Statisticians Working in Policy Research need from Statistical Education?

The purpose of this paper is to explore to what extent knowledge and skills provided to students majoring in statistics satisfy the expectations of the work environment in policy research centers. A list of items reflecting statistics knowledge and statistical skills as well as soft skills required for researchers working in policy research centers was developed. Then, the list was integrated in a pre-coded questionnaire addressed to junior statisticians working in policy research centers and their managers to measure statisticians" exposure to different items. The results showed a need for improving content of statistical education and indicated a need to emphasize statistical thinking in the cognitive formation of statistics graduates. The dose of statistical methods usually offered in a standard statistics program seems to be adequate and can help statisticians to analyze problems in an evidence-based manner. In addition, the results suggested that statistical education focuses on theoretical concepts rather than their application in real-world issues. Despite the fact that computer skills of statistics graduates are satisfactory, there is a need to improve their ability in conducting statistical analysis using database software.

Teaching the Principles of Statistics: an entrance based on Issues

This paper put forward an approach to teach the principles of statistics depends on the choice of a central issue divided into a series of questions or sub-issues to present curriculum , rather than an interconnected using traditional entrance. The application of the proposed entrance requires several stages, including skills preparation and development and the leadership of the discussion and evaluation. As well as a proposed design of teach the subjects of the principles of statistical curriculum through using the issue of subsidy as a central and sub-issues. This paper also provides a timetable for the proposed curriculum. You can benefit from this paper in the development of curriculum optional course or set training courses culminate in what has been taught in all curriculums Capstone Course as well as in some parts of Statistics Department of Statistics at universities such as University of the United Arab Emirates.

Determinants of Happiness and Life Satisfaction in Egypt: an empirical study

Recently, it has become fashionable for economists and policy makers to adopt happiness as a strategy for development. This has been motivated by increasing evidence that raising a country"s output and productivity is not a sufficient prerequisite to make people feel better. The World Values Survey-Egypt 2008, examines the determinants of happiness and life satisfaction among Egyptians. The results of the estimated ordered Probit models show that unhappiness is prevalent among old people, the unemployed and males. There appears to be a positive relation between happiness and income level, and health state and life satisfaction. The study concludes with some policy recommendations that might help decision makers in their pursuit to increase individuals" happiness and life satisfaction.

Questionnaire of produced quantities of wheat: season 2007/2008

The issue of wheat shortage is a challenge that has been facing the Egyptian government over the last fifty years which is the age of the wheat crisis in Egypt. Since it is the key component for bread making, Shortage in the produced quantity of wheat and the increase of proportion consumption caused the crisis of providing the bread for the citizens. In the context of the Egyptian government interest to define the produced quantities of wheat during the winter season 2007/2008, Information and Decision Support Center had conducted a survey to define it. The survey also aimed at defining the wheat average productivity per acre. The study introduces the methodology and the most important results of the survey, and it identifies the characteristics of wheat farmers and the location of wheat among other crops in terms of area devoted for wheat cultivation and the pattern of possession. It also explains the relative productivity of different wheat kinds, the area allocated to each kind and the pattern of disposition of the wheat crop