The New Economic Context for the Arab World

The Arab countries differ from one another in terms of their environments, economies, cultures and political systems, so their responses to global issues such as income inequality, technological disruption and climate change vary. Recent data, as well as a survey of world business leaders, offer insights into the challenges facing the Arab nations. For example, a drop in global oil prices exposed countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to fiscal stress, motivating the privatization of national assets and stimulating private sector economic diversification. Water scarcity continues to plague Jordan and Qatar, both of which have experienced shortages. Inequality...