Despite its oil resourcesthe Middle East is falling behind other regions ofthe developing world notably the countries of East and South East Asia. RodneyWilson ... » 

Despite its oil resourcesthe Middle East is falling behind other regions ofthe developing world notably the countries of East and South East Asia. RodneyWilson examines the economic prospects for the region considering theconsequences of rapid population growth including the implications foreducation and employment low savings levels the absence of significantinflows of private capital and foreign investment fragmentation of thebanking system the basic ecomomic infrastructure and the problems caused byexcessive military expenditure falling oil prices budget deficits Theauthor examines alternative economic directions for the region arguing thatboth the methods and goals of development have to be reassessed in a regionwhere Islam prevails. «