The "Resource Curse" in the Persian Gulf systematically address the little studied notion of a "resource curse" in relation to the Persian Gulf by examining the historical causes and genesis of the phenomenon and its consequences in a variety of areas, including human development, infrastructural growth, clientelism, state-building and institutional evolution, and societal and gender relations. The book explores how across the Arabian Peninsula, oil wealth began accruing to the state at a particular juncture in the state-building process, when traditional, largely informal patterns of shaikhly rule were relatively well established, but the formal institutional apparatuses of the state were not yet fully formed. The chapters show that oil wealth had a direct impact on subsequent developments in these two complementary areas. Contributors discuss how on one hand, the distribution of petrodollars enabled political elites to solidify existing patterns of rule through deepening clientelist practices and by establishing new, dependent clients; and how on the other, rent revenues gave state leaders the opportunity to establish and shape institutions in ways that solidified their political control. The "Resource Curse" in the Persian Gulf will be of great interest to scholars of Middle Eastern studies, focusing on a variety of subject areas, including human development, human resources, clientelism, infrastructural growth, institutional evolution, state-building, and societal and gender relations. This book was originally published as a special issue in the Journal of Arabian Studies.

There has been much attention in the popular media paid to corruption in the oil-exporting countries of the Persian Gulf. This book investigates various forms and measures of corruption, considers whether it is more acute in Gulf countries than elsewhere and outlines the special forms ittakes in oil and natural gas rich economies. The authors also examine the major factors that promote corrupt practices, the impact on economic growth and social development and the controversial issues around the role of Islam.

A variety of perspectives from leading economists provides fresh insight into how Arab countries may best exploit their oil revenues.

Oil and Gas in Trinidad and Tobago presents a historical economic review of the energy sector of Trinidad and Tobago, followed by a detailed evaluation of policies associated with resource abundance and the effects on the economy from various perspectives, including industrialization, labor productivity, education, export diversification, and competitiveness. This book utilizes a wide range of statistical data and methodologies to both economically and statistically analyze these issues at hand. The content of this book will be useful not only for policymakers but also for researchers and students interested in the field.

Sovereign Wealth Funds have become increasingly powerful and influential investors. Their increasing role, and unusual character as both political and market actors, raise a number of issues with regard to finance, politics, regulation, and international business. This handbook draws together the growing but fragmented research on SWFs.

The New Energy Crisis comes from the recent intrusion of climate change issues into energy economics and geopolitics. Global warming reveals that the current evolution of the world energy consumption is on an unsustainable path. This book explores economic and geopolitical tensions and reinforces ways to overcome the crisis.

Using cases on individual countries, Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa offers diverse theoretical and empirical evidence on a variety of issues facing policymakers, investors, and other stakeholders in the region.