Ibrahim Oweiss
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ibrahim Oweiss is an Egyptian-born
American
economist
, international economic
advisor, and professor
of economics
at Georgetown University
in Washington, DC, United States
.
degree from Alexandria University
in Egypt majoring in economics and political science before moving to the United States to earn Masters and Ph.D. degrees in economics at the University of Minnesota
.
Dr. Oweiss has authored over fifty scholarly publications including Petrodollar Surpluses, Arab Civilization, The Political Economy of Contemporary Egypt, and in a pioneering work on oil revenues, he coined the term "petrodollars." (This is a frequently used term in economics and in research in global economics and business: e.g. this 2007 New York Times article.) The influential Oweiss Demand Curve was first presented at Oxford University. He has been a prominent faculty member who shaped generations of students at Georgetown in economics, international affairs
, and related fields. His academic interests have focused on international trade
, especially free trade
, and the economics of the Middle East
. He has advocated for greater international cooperation and mutual understanding among countries. Oweiss is often noted by students for his humanistic, optimistic approach and his emphasis on maintaining values in the midst of scholarship and economic development. Oweiss is currently Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Economics and teaches at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service campus in Qatar
.
Oweiss has served as an economic advisor for several governments, multinational corporations, and individuals, in the United States and abroad. He was formerly an advisor to President Jimmy Carter
and to U.S. business magnate Armand Hammer
.
Oweiss is President of the Council on Egyptian-American Relations and was one of the founding members of Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
(CCAS) at Georgetown University as well as the College of Commerce and Economics at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman
. In February 2009, Oweiss spoke on "The Global Depression and the Gulf Economies" at the Georgetown Qatar Campus.
In a 2005 article by Egyptian weekly Al-Ahram
, Oweiss stated that Egyptian expatriate scholars like himself "never let go of their ties with their home country." The article suggests this bond with his native Egypt was Oweiss's motivation for having "offered his services to the Egyptian government" to be "assigned by [then] President Anwar El-Sadat as chief of the Egyptian economic mission to the US in 1977." In the article, Oweiss goes on to state, "I have always been involved in Egyptian affairs. [...] I have twice presided over the Egyptian American Scholars Association and have overseen several projects that aimed at technology and knowledge transfer back to Egypt."
Egyptian American
Egyptian Americans are Americans of Egyptian ancestry, first-generation Egyptian immigrants, or descendants of Egyptians who immigrated to the United States. In the 2007 U.S. census, the number of people with Egyptian ancestry was estimated at 195,000, although some estimates range from several...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, international economic
International economics
International economics is concerned with the effects upon economic activity of international differences in productive resources and consumer preferences and the institutions that affect them...
advisor, and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, DC, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life and education
Dr. Oweiss received a Bachelor of CommerceBachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
degree from Alexandria University
Alexandria University
Alexandria University is a university in Alexandria, Egypt. It was established in 1938 as a satellite of Fuad University , becoming an independent entity in 1942. It was known as Farouk University until the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 when its name was changed to the University of Alexandria...
in Egypt majoring in economics and political science before moving to the United States to earn Masters and Ph.D. degrees in economics at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
.
Career
Dr. Oweiss joined the faculty of Georgetown University in 1967. While on leave from Georgetown, he was appointed to the cabinet of the Egyptian government as First Under-Secretary for Economic Affairs in 1977 and with rank of Ambassador, held the position of the Chief of the Egyptian Economic Mission to the United States in New York.Dr. Oweiss has authored over fifty scholarly publications including Petrodollar Surpluses, Arab Civilization, The Political Economy of Contemporary Egypt, and in a pioneering work on oil revenues, he coined the term "petrodollars." (This is a frequently used term in economics and in research in global economics and business: e.g. this 2007 New York Times article.) The influential Oweiss Demand Curve was first presented at Oxford University. He has been a prominent faculty member who shaped generations of students at Georgetown in economics, international affairs
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
, and related fields. His academic interests have focused on international trade
International trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories. In most countries, such trade represents a significant share of gross domestic product...
, especially free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
, and the economics of the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. He has advocated for greater international cooperation and mutual understanding among countries. Oweiss is often noted by students for his humanistic, optimistic approach and his emphasis on maintaining values in the midst of scholarship and economic development. Oweiss is currently Associate Professor Emeritus in the Department of Economics and teaches at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service campus in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
.
Oweiss has served as an economic advisor for several governments, multinational corporations, and individuals, in the United States and abroad. He was formerly an advisor to President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
and to U.S. business magnate Armand Hammer
Armand Hammer
Armand Hammer was an American business tycoon most closely associated with Occidental Petroleum, a company he ran for decades, though he was known as well as for his art collection, his philanthropy, and for his close ties to the Soviet Union.Thanks to business interests around the world and his...
.
Oweiss is President of the Council on Egyptian-American Relations and was one of the founding members of Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
The Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States is a notable academic center and "the only academic center in the United States focusing essentially on the Arab world."-Funding:...
(CCAS) at Georgetown University as well as the College of Commerce and Economics at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
. In February 2009, Oweiss spoke on "The Global Depression and the Gulf Economies" at the Georgetown Qatar Campus.
In a 2005 article by Egyptian weekly Al-Ahram
Al-Ahram
Al-Ahram , founded in 1875, is the most widely circulating Egyptian daily newspaper, and the second oldest after al-Waqa'i`al-Masriya . It is majority owned by the Egyptian government....
, Oweiss stated that Egyptian expatriate scholars like himself "never let go of their ties with their home country." The article suggests this bond with his native Egypt was Oweiss's motivation for having "offered his services to the Egyptian government" to be "assigned by [then] President Anwar El-Sadat as chief of the Egyptian economic mission to the US in 1977." In the article, Oweiss goes on to state, "I have always been involved in Egyptian affairs. [...] I have twice presided over the Egyptian American Scholars Association and have overseen several projects that aimed at technology and knowledge transfer back to Egypt."
Published works
- Some Positive Aspects of the Egyptian Economy (1978)
- Petrodollar Surpluses (1983)
- The Political Economy of Contemporary Egypt (1990)
Awards and honors
- Order of Merit of Egypt, First Class
- Grand Cordon of the Order of Mohammed Ali Pasha
- Knight of the Order of the Queen of Sheba