Drawing on Khalid Ikram's extensive knowledge of economic policymaking at the highest levels, The Political Economy of Reforms in Egypt lays out the enduring features of the Egyptian economy and its performance since 1952 before presenting an account of policy-making, growth and structural change under the country's successive presidents to the present day.

This book examines the character and consequences of Egypt's economic reform and structural adjustment programme of 1991, along with the second stage of reforms in 1996. It contributes to the debates underpinning the political economy of economic reform and agricultural reform.

This book studies the impact of Egypt's Economic Reform and Structural Adjustment Programme (ERSAP), the effects of which have been of great interest to the international community. Organizations such as the World Bank and the IMF uphold the programme as a success story and example for other countries to follow. ERSAP also has its critics, however, who resent its tendency to downsize government and fear possible negative effects on growth and development. The author discusses these concerns along with those regarding the possible negative social effects of ERSAP.

"Provides a new perspective on public policy in postrevolutionary Egypt, breaking theoretical ground in the development debate. . . . Students and scholars in the fields of Middle East studies and development studies will find this work seminal."--Tareq Y. Ismael, University of Calgary Focusing on six areas of economic policy reform in Egypt--industry, agriculture, subsidies, foreign exchange, education, and housing--Iliya Harik outlines the development strategy of a country that once led the nonaligned nations of the Third World and explains its slow transition from an authoritarian to a more open and competitive system. Harik observes that Egypt's poor economic performance under Nasser, Sadat, and Mubarak has resulted from a development strategy emphasizing balance over growth. While some analysts have claimed that Egypt's economy has suffered under a heavy welfare burden, Harik shows to the contrary that the bulk of spending has gone to support a form of economic nationalism aimed at controlled self-sufficiency--an economic strategy that has ultimately proved detrimental both to growth and to social welfare. Beyond his analysis of Egypt's economic model, with its bias for slow growth and high cost, Harik shows how unrealistic policies have engendered a culture that is not civic-minded and explains the political and economic reasons for the regime's gradualist approach to change. In his concluding chapter, he explores the possibility of a development strategy wherein creative talent is emphasized and public agencies work with organized labor to generate growth, employment, and equity. Iliya Harik is professor of political science at Indiana University and author and editor of numerous books and articles, including The Political Mobilization of Peasants (1974) and Privatization and Liberalization in the Middle East (1992).

This pioneering volume addresses the key issue of the relationship between politics and economics, with special reference to Egypt in the 1990s. Drawing on the expertise of both political scientists and economists, it assembles an impressive array of data, including detailed opinion surveys, to demonstrate conclusively that political and economic reform need to proceed in tandem. In an insightful analysis of the Egyptian legislature, the authors draw attention to a fundamental aspect of institutional reform, namely the informational and knowledge base of legislation as well as the organizational infrastructure of policy formulation. As regards Egypt's economic performance since the early 1990s, they focus in particular on impediments to improved export performance and offer solid recommendations as to how such obstacles might be overcome. This stimulating study makes a timely contribution to political economic analysis, which may at the same time prove helpful in the formulation of new policies.

The author argues in this text that the much-vaunted reform and liberalisation of Egypt's economy has been partial and selective, far from beneficial to all Egyptians. While the encouragement of the private sector has indeed benefited some, it has failed to improve the standard of living of others, in particular the lower middle classes and a large part of the landless rural population. Most importantly, economic reform and liberalisation have failed to produce a greater degree of political democracy: notions of political accountability, clean elections, a genuinely free press, the containment of police powers have turned out to be a great delusion which masks restrictions on political participation and civil liberties.