Ragui Assaad

Ragui Assaad is a Professor of Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs, holding the Freeman Chair in International Economic Policy. His research focuses on labor policy, labor market dynamics, and socioeconomic inequality in developing countries, particularly the Middle East and North Africa. Key areas include education-to-work transitions, gender disparities in employment, and the impact of migration and economic shocks on labor markets.

Education: Ph.D. in City & Regional Planning (Cornell University, 1991), BS and MS in Physics and Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (1981).

Research affiliations include the Economic Research Forum (Cairo) as Thematic Director for Labor and Human Resource Development, and the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA, Bonn). He previously served as Regional Director for West Asia and North Africa at the Population Council (2005-2008) and has consulted for the World Bank, UNICEF, and ILO.

Recent work examines Egypt's labor force projections (2000-2050), pandemic impacts on Middle Eastern economies, and Syrian refugee effects on Jordanian housing and education. Over 50 peer-reviewed publications address topics like informal employment, social insurance trends, and gender norms shaping domestic work.

Awards: Extensive grants from organizations like the Ford Foundation and UNDP. Active in policy advising on youth unemployment and formalization strategies.