ABSTRACT
Economic performance and conditions in the Middle East are highly varied. One country Yemen falls into the world's poorest category, with annual national income below $1,000 per head. At the other end of the scale, some Gulf state's average income is comparable to European countries, as is Israel's despite its permanent state of military preparedness and the economic consequences of the intifada. For much of the region the dominant economic fact is oil, and large oil reserves have generated enormous wealth. Economic performance in the oil-rich countries fluctuates according to variations in world prices and, from one year to the next, prosperity for many ordinary people comes and goes. There are elected assemblies in several Middle East countries; they are an outlet for expression of public sentiment on some issues, and in some cases their advisory role is taken seriously but they do not hold executive power.
