Episode 30! The hosts welcome Dr. Mark Thompson from Riyadh. The hosts discuss Mark’s latest book, “Being Young, Male, and Saudi,” as well as his deep experiences living and teaching in the Kingdom. Before that, the hosts discuss why U.S. shale will not be saving the day any time soon, and also an encouraging new survey from Uber Technologies on Saudi women’s increased participation in the workforce.

2:36 – Where is shale oil and why isn’t it more impactful in the U.S. energy mix?
U.S. shale oil production transformed global energy markets when it helped U.S. oil production go from just under 4mbd in September 2008 to 13.1 mbd in February 2020. And, despite rapid depletion rates, shale oil production is cheaper and faster to bring online than traditional methods of oil production. By 2014 U.S. oil – specifically shale oil – was widely viewed as the ‘swing producer’ – a role OPEC and specifically Saudi Arabia had held for decades.
By 2014 U.S. shale oil set the ceiling for global oil prices leaving OPEC to try to maintain the floor as best it could.
Still, U.S. Shale Oil won’t be saving the day any time soon. The hosts explore why this is and talk about what might be next for energy markets and U.S. energy policy.

26:05 – A recent study by Uber in Saudi Arabia reveals that female participation in the labor force keeps climbing – and is ahead of schedule for Vision 2030.
Between 2018 and 2021 – female participation in the labor force grew from around 22% to almost 36%.
The increase means that the country has met its Vision 2030 target of 30% female labor force participation almost 10 years ahead of schedule.

32:00 – Dr. Mark Thompson, Senior Research Fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS) and author of the book, Being Young Male and Saudi: Identity and Politics in a Globalized Kingdom (Cambridge University Press) joins The 966 to talk about his research and experiences in Saudi Arabia. Mark also has a new book forthcoming, Governance and Domestic Policy Making in Saudi Arabia: Transforming Society, Economics, Politics and Culture.

The hosts talk with Mark about his methodology, and what it’s like to engage with Saudi youth to find out what they want and see for the future. They also discuss educational reforms in Saudi Arabia, Vision 2030 progress, and much more.