Political Economy of Middle East

Catalog description

This course will familiarize the students with the patterns of economic development and the evolution of economic institutions in the Middle East and North Africa region after World War Two. To the extent that political and social institutions are relevant for understanding the region’s economic development, the course will also cover these subjects selectively. For example the students will learn about how regional instability and political institutions of MENA countries have affected their ability to implement economic reforms. Another important topic that will be covered in detail is the impact of oil wealth on political and economic development of the region. The course will also familiarize the students with tools and procedures of country analysis and regional analysis and apply these tools to understanding the present conditions of the MENA countries with an eye to the future trends. The emphasis will be on analysis of the main drivers of economic growth such as the leading economic indicators, prospects for macroeconomic stability, and major risk factors that could have an adverse effect on business climate.