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.