Economics of the Middle East a comparative approach

Introduction -- A. the scope of this book -- B. The human development index -- Three Arab worlds -- Human development in the three Arab worlds on the eve of the "Arab Spring" -- E. Human development in the three Arab worlds after the "Arab Spring" -- F. A note on country groups -- Historical perspective -- International trade, natural resource rents, and foreign direct investment -- Human resources -- Gender gaps -- Income inequality, poverty, migration, and unemployment -- Environmental challenges -- Government spending : urban infrastructure, energy subsidies, and the military -- Political economy -- Conclusion : some modest proposals for policy.

Countries in the Middle East have very different economies, even if they are often grouped together. In The Economics of the Middle East, James Rauch focuses on the drivers of their distinctiveness, including the effects of their natural endowments, geographic locations, and interactions with the global economy. This book evaluates the socioeconomic trajectories of three groups of Middle Eastern States: Sub-Saharan African, fuel-endowed, and "Mediterranean." It compares these groups both to each other and to developing countries in other regions with similar characteristics. Rauch draws on basic approaches to economic development to enhance understanding of important issues, such how policies on gender, education, health, and the environment affect development. His comparative perspective sheds light on how and why the Arab countries, Iran, and Turkey have done better or worse than similar countries in other regions. His analysis throughout is supported by data that are well organized and clearly presented.