Affluence and Poverty in the Middle East

by M. Riad El-Ghonemy

Overview

Affluence and Poverty in the Middle East is an introduction to the political economy of the Middle East, focusing on its most salient features - persistent poverty and extreme inequality. El-Ghonemy analyses the factors influencing the region, including its unique historical, religious and cultural mix, as well as its economic foundations and forms of corruption. For each factor he employs case-studies drawn from throughout the region, from Turkey to Sudan and Morocco to Iran. In the final section El-Ghomeny discusses possible solutions to the challenges facing the region, including possible uses of a peace dividend, and the role of democracy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415100335
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/05/1998
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

M. Riad El-Ghonemy is Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford, Fellow of the American University in Cairo and Emeritus Professor, Ein-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. He is the author of several books, including The Political Economy of Rural Poverty (1990).

Table of Contents

Introduction, Plan of the book, The approach PART I The Roots 1 Basic concepts and realities 2 Historical origins 3 Religious foundations of justice and inheritance 4 Economic foundations: the natural resource base 5 Unbalanced development 6 Social imbalance in public expenditure: health, education and defence 7 Corruption: the embezzlement of public funds 8 Inequality in private consumption PART II Policy choice: some countries’ experiences 9 Redistribution of wealth and income: an assessment 10 Economic policy reforms: distributional impact 11 Prospects and challenges

Editorial Reviews

'An analytical and comprehensive view of Middle Eastern development problems. What is new in this comprehensive work is the author's ability to use several analytical tools from the social sciences that have previously been neglected in other studies.' - The Cambridge Books Review

'It is likely to become, and remain, the standard chronicle of economic inequity in the modern Middle East.' - Charles Foster, Contemporary Review

'Many readers will be especially interested in El-Ghonemy's account of the impact of economic policy reforms on income distribution.' - Middle Eastern Studies Review Vol 35, No.1 Jan 99

'This extended essay and analysis ends on a passionate call for peace, a drastic reduction of military spending, and renewed efforts to educate the younger generation.' - International Review of Biblical Studies

From the Publisher