Is there a new development paradigm? This volume brings together a number of studies on the major issues of adjustment as they apply to countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The authors draw on economic, political and institutional theory in order to appraise and compare the development models, identify the determinants of sustained growth, apply the new development concepts to the case of MENA countries, and suggest viable options to reduce the political and social constraints to reform. Four sets of issues are vividly highlighted throughout the book: the issue of integration into the global economy and the speed with which foreign trade should be liberalized; the issue of divestiture and the merits of following various privatization strategies; the issue of state intervention in the context of liberalization and private sector orientation; and the issue of democratization and the political economy of reform. Contributors: Fikret Adaman, Nazih Ayubi, Driss Ben Ali, Amar Bhattacharya, Ha-Joon Chang, Byron Gangnes, Giacomo Luciani, Seiji Naya, Jeffrey B. Nugent, John M. Page, Jr., Raed Safadi, Mona Said, Khaled Sakr, Murat Sertel.

Heba Handoussa is director of the Economic Research Forum, Cairo, and is widely known for her contributions to the new development economics.