Egypt's banks have opened after a week of closures. But Egypt still faces massive poverty, rising food prices, and high unemployment. The same troubles are present in Tunisia -- where a new transitional government is working to address the country's serious economic problems. From Tunisia, Sabri Ben-Achour reports.

For more than three decades, Egypt and Israel have had stable relations and a secure border, but not much else between them. That could change depending on what happens next.

The demonstrations across Egypt have brought the possibility of political change to the country. And the economy has a lot to do with it.

Marcus Noland of the Peterson Institute for International Economics talks with Kai Ryssdal about how Egypt's economy was doing before the recent protests, the long-term issues it must deal with, and how much of a role the Middle East plays in influencing its economy.