ABSTRACT
The long-term official objectives of Saudi Arabian government policy since the 1970s have been to diversify the economy, reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil revenue, build up its infrastructure, maintain stable prices and promote sufficient economic growth to ensure the provision of satisfactory employment opportunities for at least all male citizens. Now, a quarter of a century after the oil boom, would seem an appropriate time to evaluate how far these objectives have been achieved. Not surprisingly, the picture is a mixed one.
