Arezki Rabah
Arezki Rabah
Category : Economy - Management - Commercial Sc. - Transport
AREZKI Rabah
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Chief Economist African Development Bank, Ivory Coast |
Origins & Education
Rabah Arezki is a French-Algerian economist born in Algeria in the early 1970s. Coming from a family that valued education, he quickly developed an interest in economics and its impact on national development.
His path of academic excellence began in France where he obtained a master's degree from the École nationale de la statistique et de l'administration économique (ENSAE) in Paris, one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles in the field of statistics and quantitative economics. Simultaneously, he pursued studies at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where he also earned a master's degree in economics.
Determined to deepen his academic training, Rabah Arezki went on to the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, where he obtained a PhD in economics. His thesis, focusing on the economics of natural resources and their impact on development, laid the foundations for what would become a major axis of his future research. This multidisciplinary and international education gave him a global vision of contemporary economic challenges and prepared him for a leading career in international financial institutions.
Scientific Career
Rabah Arezki's career is distinguished by an impressive trajectory within the world's largest economic and financial institutions, alternating between academic research and economic expertise applied to public policy.
He first joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he quickly rose through the ranks to become Chief of the Commodities Unit. In this strategic role, he supervised analyses relating to commodity markets and their implications for the global economy, producing reference works on natural resource price fluctuations and their macroeconomic impacts.
His career took a new turn when he joined the World Bank as Chief Economist for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This position allowed him to put his expertise at the service of economic development in a region facing considerable challenges: political instability, post-Arab Spring economic transformation, hydrocarbon dependence, and climate change. His intellectual leadership was particularly evident in the development of sustainable development strategies and economic diversification for oil-exporting countries.
In late 2020, Rabah Arezki was appointed Chief Economist at the African Development Bank (AfDB), where he continues his commitment to the economic development of the African continent. In this role, he oversees the institution's economic analyses and recommendations, helping to guide its investment strategies and support policies for African countries.
Alongside these executive functions, Rabah Arezki maintains a high-level academic activity. He has been a Senior Fellow at the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, a non-resident researcher at the Brookings Institution and the University of Oxford, an expert with the Consortium for Economic Research in Africa, and a researcher at the Economic Research Forum. These affiliations testify to his ability to bridge the gap between academia and public policy.
His areas of expertise notably include:
- The economics of natural resources and commodities
- Macroeconomics of oil-exporting countries
- Energy and environmental issues
- Economic development and governance of resource-rich countries
- Energy transition and its economic implications
- The political economy of reforms in developing countries
His scientific output is particularly prolific, with numerous publications in the most prestigious economic journals. His work on the "resource curse" and on ways to remedy it through adapted public policies has notably contributed to renewing the understanding of this phenomenon and identifying sustainable development paths for countries rich in natural resources.
Distinctions & Recognition
The quality and influence of Rabah Arezki's work have earned him international recognition in the field of development economics and natural resources. His research has been published in the most prestigious scientific journals in his discipline, testifying to their methodological rigor and their theoretical and empirical relevance.
Among the academic journals that have published his work are:
- The Quarterly Journal of Economics
- The World Bank Economic Review
- The Economic Journal
- The Journal of International Economics
- The Journal of Development Economics
- Economic Policy
Beyond his scientific articles, Rabah Arezki has co-edited and co-written several reference books in his field:
- "Beyond the Curse: Policies to Harness the Power of Natural Resources" - A fundamental work on strategies allowing resource-rich countries to escape the "curse" and transform their natural wealth into sustainable development.
- "Commodity Price Volatility and Inclusive Growth in Low-Income Countries" - An in-depth analysis of the impact of commodity price volatility on inclusive growth in low-income countries.
- "Shifting Commodity Markets in a Globalized World" - A study of the transformations in commodity markets in the context of economic globalization.
- "Coping with the Climate Crisis: Mitigation Policies and Global Coordination" - A work exploring the challenges of the climate crisis and the mitigation policies needed on a global scale.
The recognition of his expertise is also manifested through his numerous invitations as a speaker at international economic forums and prestigious universities, where his analyses on commodity market trends, energy transition, and development challenges are particularly sought after.
His active participation in influential think tanks, such as the Brookings Institution, and his role as an advisor to governments and international organizations confirm his status as a reference expert on economic issues related to natural resources and development.
Impact & Influence
Rabah Arezki's influence extends far beyond academia to reach decision-making spheres and public debate on economic policies, particularly in regions rich in natural resources such as the Middle East and Africa.
His work on the economics of natural resources has contributed to renewing the understanding of the "resource curse" and identifying economic policies that allow resource-rich countries to transform this wealth into sustainable development. This intellectual contribution has influenced the orientation of economic policies in several commodity-exporting countries, particularly in terms of oil revenue management, economic diversification, and the creation of sovereign wealth funds.
At the World Bank, his intellectual leadership marked the development of development strategies for the MENA region, emphasizing the need for a post-oil transition, improved governance, and strengthening of the private sector. His recommendations have influenced economic reform programs in several countries in the region.
His media impact is also considerable. His posts and articles on current economic issues, particularly those dealing with the collapse of oil prices and its global economic repercussions, have enjoyed exceptional dissemination, being among the most read IMF blogs for three consecutive years. This ability to communicate complex economic analyses in an accessible way has allowed him to influence public debate on crucial economic issues.
His regular contribution to influential platforms such as the IMF's Finance and Development magazine and the VoxEU portal demonstrates his commitment to sharing his analyses with a wider audience than just the academic community. This approach to scientific popularization has contributed to enriching the public debate on major economic issues such as energy transition, commodity price volatility, or development challenges in Africa.
At the African Development Bank, his influence is manifested in the orientation of investment strategies and support policies for African economies, with a particular emphasis on structural transformation, economic diversification, and the transition to more sustainable and inclusive development models.
His expertise on commodity markets and their impact on developing economies has also earned him regular consultation by policy makers, investors, and international organizations, thus contributing to informing strategic decisions in these areas.