Laith Ahmed sells fridges and microwaves in Baghdad for a living. But with sales down by as much as 70 per cent in just two months, he has yet to benefit from the trickle-down of an economy that is expected to grow by 11.1 per cent this year.
Traders like him complain they are paying the price for a bloated public sector, persistent corruption and a lack of investment in vital infrastructure amid a deepening political crisis.
"Trade has virtually stopped," said Mr Ahmed, who buys his products from neighbouring Dubai and Amman. "No one wants to buy right now. There's an Iraqi saying that capital is a nervous entity and needs security to be confident and flourish."
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