MAS Director General Addresses Conference on Heterodox Economics
The Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) Director General, Raja Khalidi, participated in the inaugural conference of the Centre on Heterodox Economics at the University of Tulsa, USA (7-9 February, 2025) , contributing to a panel on "The Political Economy of Occupied Palestine." In his presentation Khalidi provided an in-depth analysis of the intersection between economic development and the broader political landscape, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable and resilient economic policies that address the ongoing realities of occupation, settler colonialism, genocide and global economic shifts.
“This conference provides a vital platform to examine the economic dimensions of the Palestinian struggle and to develop alternative strategies that ensure economic resilience and self-determination” said Raja Khalidi. “It is imperative to move beyond the constraints imposed by occupation and neoliberal economic prescriptions and instead formulate policies that empower Palestinian institutions and communities.”
The conference featured a range of discussions covering heterodox economic theory with participants from across the world, including scholars from Europe, Africa, Latin American, Asia and the United States, contributing to this critical dialogue.
The panel on "The Political Economy of Occupied Palestine" featured Key Speakers and Participants
- Raja Khalidi – Director General of the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS), development economist, and former UNCTAD economist.
- Lamees Farraj – Researcher specializing in fiscal policies, public budgets, and Palestinian labor issues.
- Shir Hever – Political economist and author, focusing on Israeli economic policies and the BDS movement.
- Ibrahim Shikaki – Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College, expert on Palestinian dependency and class formation.