DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/31ba61/the_arabian_spring)
has announced the addition of the "The
Arabian Spring and its Impact on MENA Economies" report to their
offering.
Political unrest in the Arab World in the year 2011 increased existing
tensions in the region's economies from the current global economic
downturn, and at the same time escalated the risks surrounding the
economy, as revolutions and uprisings swept across many countries in the
region, with unforeseen consequences. Before analysing the economic
impact of the Arabian Spring, it is useful to evaluate the economic
scene prevailing in societies which underwent a revolution in the Arab
World during the time period prior to the revolutions.
In the vast majority of Arabian countries that witnessed revolutions in
2011, economic conditions were already challenging with high food and
energy prices, high unemployment rates among young people, weak economic
reforms, severe anomalies in wage structure, and unclear measures to
fight against corruption. Economic issues were the main engine of the
revolutions and consequently economic corrections and reforms topped
priorities of these societies.
Typically, the most adversely affected economies were likely those
countries that witnessed revolutions and conflicts namely: Tunisia,
Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain. However, in addition to the
ones involved in the conflict and revolutions, other countries in the
region also suffered from economic impacts of the Arab Spring. Those
countries that did not witness revolutions but were already suffering
from economic difficulties, such as Jordan, Morocco, and Algeria are
projected to suffer because economic performance maybe faced by surged
social unrests. On the other hand, rich countries in the region with a
relatively secure political environment such as most GCC countries are
expected to be less negatively affected by the Arabian Spring but likely
to witness increasing spending pressures on social programs to avoid
similar uprisings.
In countries that witnessed revolutions, economic impacts are related to
the macroeconomic environment as a whole via GDP losses, fiscal balance
deterioration, depletion or exhaustion of foreign reserves, drying up of
foreign investment, and enlarged current account deficits. According to
the IMF, GDP losses in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain
are estimated for 2011 alone at US$ 20.56 billion while the cost to
public finance of the same countries is estimated at US$ 35.28 billion
over the same period.
The rich oil exporters such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait,
witnessed significant increases in GDP in 2011 and benefited from the
high oil prices and increased production levels, especially Saudi
Arabia, as the latter increased production to cover the supply shock
resulting from the conflict in Libya. But, these countries also
substantially increased spending on social programs to avoid internal
uprisings similar to the Arab Spring. Other countries in the region also
increased social spending in response to the Arabian Spring to avoid
future revolutions.
Key Topics Covered:
The
Arabian Spring and its Impact on MENA Economies December 2011
Executive Summary - MENA Economies and the Arabian Spring
World Economic Uncertainties Surging
The Impact of the Arab Spring on MENA Oil Exporting Countries
Impact of the Arabian Spring on MENA Oil Importing Countries
Impact of the Arab Spring by MENA Country
MENA Outlook for 2012 and beyond
Countries Covered:
Egypt
Libya
Tunisia
Yemen
Syria
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/31ba61/the_arabian_spring
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120207006906/en/Research-Markets-Arab-Spring-Impact-Economies-Middle