ABSTRACT
While much of the literature of the preceding period dwelt on the distortions to the WBGS economy created by the ‘forced integration’ to which it was subjected, or on the adverse economic effects of ‘closures’, this book is forwardlooking and focused more clearly on economic policy and institutional reform. It assumes a political framework which we think is appropriate to the circumstances in which an eventual Palestinian state is likely to come into existence. It abstracts from the political uncertainties which overshadowed much of the earlier work in order to prioritise economic issues. Finally, in order to broaden the perspective of the book and to strengthen its focus on economics rather than politics, we deliberately invited economists who were experts, not on Palestine but on the relevant areas of economics, to contribute papers or to act as discussants.
