DP7807 Arab Economic Integration: Missing links

Author(s):	Bernard Hoekman, Khalid Sekkat
Publication Date:	May 2010
Keyword(s):	Arab economies, Arab League, GCC, PAFTA, regional integration, trade agreements
JEL(s):	F15, F2, F53, O53
Programme Areas:	International Trade and Regional Economics
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=7807

This paper surveys the recent literature on Arab economic integration, discusses the goals and progress that has been made to date and some of the key policy, regulatory and political factors that underpin the segmentation of Arab markets. It argues that there has been an excessive focus by both analysts and policymakers on trade in goods and that the prospects for ? and returns to ? efforts to deepen integration of other markets (services, labor and capital) are likely to be higher.