Reviving Arab Reform: Development Challenges and Opportunities

✍ Scribed by Islam Abdelbary

• Publisher: Emerald Publishing
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 219
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Reviving Arab Reform offers a unique consideration of the links between economic, political and social development in the Arab region and offers tangible hope for the future. Islam Abdelbary evaluates the reform programmes in the last three decades in the Middle East North Africa region, and through a wide variety of analytical methods, he identifies the failures and successes of previous Arab reforms by comparing the outcomes of reforms in the Arab world with those in other world regions. The book is distinguished by how it outlines the challenges and opportunities for development in the region and provides a framework for comprehensive and integrated development in the Arab world. Ultimately, Abdelbary argues that the new Arab reform agenda must address previous debilitating development issues, especially governance. Economic reform should not be seen in a vacuum, in isolation from political and social choices that society makes, thereby contributing to sustained and inclusive growth.For its unique mix of scholarly rigour and practical ways forward, Reviving Arab Reformis a must-read not only for researchers interested in economic theory, development studies, and the Middle East but also for policy-makers in the region and international organisations.

✦ Table of Contents

Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
About the Author
Preface
Foreword
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1:
Introduction
Background and Rationale
Purpose of the Book
Structure of the Book
Chapter 2:
The Theoretical Basis*
Introduction
What is Development?
Is It Development or Growth?
A Brief Review of Modern Economic Development Theories
Neoclassical Theory
New Growth Theory (Endogenous Growth Theory)
New Institutional Economics (NIE) Theory
Underpinning Theory of the Research
The Theoretical Model of the Research
Looking Back and Ahead
Chapter 3:
Methodology
Introduction
The Research Approach
The Empirical Model
Scope of the Study
Characteristics of the Data
Sources of Data
Missing Data
Estimation Approaches and Econometric Techniques
Looking Back and Ahead
Chapter 4:Insight of Arab Economics: A Reforming Outlook
Introduction
Deep Insight of Economic Growth in the Arab Region
The Economic Growth Pattern in the Whole Region
The Economic Growth Pattern in the Sub-Arab Groups
The Characteristics of the Arab Economic Growth
The Evolution of Arab Reform
Looking Back and Ahead
Appendices
Appendix 4.1. Arab Potential and Actual GDP with Output Gap (1995–2018).
Appendix 4.2. GDP Per Capita Growth for Sub-Arab Groups.
Appendix 4.3. Growth Rates of GDP Components in the Arab Region.
Chapter 5:
Economic Stabilisation and Arab Reform
Introduction
Macroeconomic Stability Indicators
Prices and Inflation
Unemployment
Exchange Rates
Public Finance Indicators
External Stability Indicators (E)
International Trade and Current Account (CA) Balance
Debt Relief
International Reserves
Looking Back and Ahead
Chapter 6:
Business and Structural Reform
Introduction
Aggregate Structural Reform Indicator
Foreign Direct Investment
Financial Liberalisation
Economy Diversification Structure
Looking Back and Ahead
Chapter 7:
Social Aspects of Arab Reform
Introduction
Poverty and Inequality
Human Capital
Health Sector Reform
Education Sector Reform
Research and Innovation
Physical Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure Facilities (Drinking water, Sanitation, Electricity)
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Looking Back and Ahead
Chapter 8:
Institutions and Political Aspects of Arab Reform
Introduction
Governance and Institutions in ACs
Democracy (Governance Input)
Voice and Accountability
Political Stability
Public Administration Capacity (Governance Process)
Government Effectiveness (GE)
Regulatory Quality (RQ)
The State of Law (Governance Output)
Rule of Law
Control of Corruption
Looking Back and Ahead
Chapter 9:
Winners and Losers of Arab Reforms
Introduction
The Impact of Reform on the Arab World
The Failure to Provide Inclusive Reforms
1. Oil Dependence ‘Resource Curse’
2. Macroeconomic Fragility
3. Vulnerable Institutions
4. Political Conflict and Civil Wars
Looking Back and Ahead
Chapter 10:
The Impact of Reform Programmes on Economic Growth: An Econometric Analysis
Introduction
Testing Heterogeneity of Panel Data
Panel Estimated Results
Estimated Panel Data Models for Advanced Economies
Estimated Panel Data Models for Developing Countries
Estimated Panel Data Models for All ACs
Discussion of Panel Estimated Results
State Variable
Macroeconomic instability
External Stability
Structural Reform
Human Capital
Physical Infrastructure
Governance
Looking Back and Ahead
Appendices
Appendix 10.1. The Heterogeneity of Panel Data Models
Appendix 10.2.The Relationship between Economic Growth and Public Health Expenditure Among Advanced Economies and Developing Countries
Appendix 10.3. The Relationship between Economic Growth and Sanitation in Advanced Economies
Chapter 11:
Towards an Inclusive Development Framework for Arab Reform
Introduction
Moving Forward to an Inclusive Framework of the Reform
Phase 1: Political and Institutional Reform
Phase 2: Economic Reform
Phase 3: Social Reform
Other Influential Factors
Concluding Remarks
References
Index