"Compared to other regions of the world, the Middle East was once unique in its combination of authoritarianism and stultifying stability: No longer. Beginning in Tunisia, a wave of political upheaval has rolled across the region, reaching Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, and other countries caught...

The forces of globalization during the past two decades have been particularly powerful, but for many reasons, countries in the Arab region have not participated in globalization to the extent found in other regions of the world. Whereas most regions of the world experienced a significant...

Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- Addressing the Challenge -- Conclusion -- Appendix 1A -- Chapter 2: Growth, Productivity, and Income -- Identifying the Comparators -- Relative International Performance -- Domestic Growth over Time -- Investment and...