Pg. 69: "The Arab Economies in a Changing World"

The current feature at the Page 69 Test: Marcus Noland and Howard Pack's The Arab Economies in a Changing World.

About the book, from the publisher's website:

The tragic events of 9/11 and the subsequent war in Iraq have focused international attention on a nexus of problems involving economic underperformance, problematic internal politics, and externalization of domestic dissent in the Muslim world. This book examines the economics of the Middle East, with the aim of identifying changes to economic policy that could address at least the economic component of the challenges facing this part of the globe. The authors analyze the interaction of trade, productivity growth, and the political difficulties that may ensue as these countries move towards greater openness. Relevant comparisons are drawn from the experience of the transition economies and India on potentially successful policies and those likely to exacerbate existing problems.

Among the praise for the study:

"[A] major addition to a very slim literature on an important issue."
--Patrick Clawson, Washington Institute for Near East Policy

"[T]he only book to my knowledge that provides a comprehensive and integrated politico-economic analysis of Arab economic performance and prospects. It will fill a big need in college syllabi...."
--Farrukh Iqbal, World Bank

Listen to Devin Stewart's interview with Marcus Noland about The Arab Economies in a Changing World via Policy Innovations, the Carnegie Council's globalization program.

Marcus Noland is a senior fellow at the Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics. His work encompasses a wide range of topics including the political economy of US trade policy and the Asian financial crisis. His many publications include Famine in North Korea: Markets, Aid, and Reform, co-authored with Stephan Haggard and subjected to the Page 69 Test earlier this year.

Howard Pack is Professor of Business and Public Policy, Economics, and Management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Learn more about The Arab Economies in a Changing World at the publisher's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Arab Economies in a Changing World.

--Marshal Zeringue