ABSTRACT

This Handbook captures the salient features of Middle Eastern economies and critically examines the public policy responses required to address the challenges and opportunities across the region. Bringing together wide-ranging perspectives from carefully selected and renowned subject specialists, the collection fills a gap in this relatively young and growing academic field.

Combining discussion of theory and empirical evidence, the book maps out the evolution of Middle East economics as a field within area studies and applied development economics. Presented in six thematic sections, the book enables the reader to gain a comprehensive understanding of the region’s main economic themes and issues:

• Growth and development in comparative perspectives

• Labour force and human development

• Natural resources, resource curse and trade

• Poverty, inequality and social policy

• Institutions and transition to democracy

• Corruption, conflict and refugees

Providing an overview of the principal economic problems, policies and performances relating to the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, this collection will be a key resource for upper-level undergraduates, graduates and scholars with an interest in Middle East economics, applied development economics, development studies and area studies.

chapter 1|16 pages

Introduction

section Section I|38 pages

Growth and development in comparative perspectives

chapter 3|18 pages

Is MENA exceptional?

section Section II|54 pages

Labour force and human development

section Section III|78 pages

Natural resources, resource curse and trade

chapter 8|21 pages

From oil rents to inclusive growth

Lessons from the MENA region

chapter 9|15 pages

Understanding water conflicts in the MENA region

A comparative analysis using a restructured Water Poverty Index

chapter 10|22 pages

Trade and economic growth in the MENA region

Do trade in goods and trade in services differ in their impact on growth? 1

section Section V|70 pages

Institutions and transition to democracy

chapter 15|10 pages

Religion and politics

Why the West got rich and the Middle East did not

chapter 17|16 pages

The Arab Spring, and after

Economic features and policy challenges

chapter 18|17 pages

The youth bulge

The mismeasured, misunderstood and mistreated Arab youth

section Section VI|38 pages

Corruption, conflict and refugees

chapter 20|11 pages

A pyramid of privilege

How cronyism shapes business–state relations in the Middle East

chapter 21|12 pages

Refugees in the MENA region

Historical overview, effects and challenges