In Time of Troubles: Challenges and Prospects in the Middle East and North Africa

The recent crises concerning food and finances highlight the extreme fragility of the MENA countries and question the sustainability of the development processes. The social stress and economic instability caused by these challenges give a good indication of what might be expected in the future. This paper intends to provide a comprehensive analysis for understanding the major challenges faced by the region and the kind of internal impediments that will need to be dealt with in order to achieve a higher level of economic development and more resilience to external shocks.