Affluence and Poverty in the Middle East

ISBN-13: 9780415100335 / Angielski / Miękka / 1998 / 320 str.

Mohamad Riad El Ghonemy; M. El-Ghonemy

Opis

This text explores the causes and consequences of the persistent poverty and extreme inequality that have characterized the Middle East. Using extensive empirical evidence the author helps the reader understand the impact of co-existing affluence and poverty. In the first part of the book, he investigates the common cultural and economic factors that have brought about such an extreme polarization of living standards. Focusing particularly on, historical origins, religion, economic foundations, and corruption, the author uses a number of case studies to illustrate how each factor has affected different countries in the region. The second part consists of country studies that examine how particular governments and NGOs have responded to vast inequalities in the distribution of wealth, income and opportunities.

Recenzje

'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

Spis treści

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

O autorze

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).