Economic Systems of Innovation in the Arab Region [Paperback]

The Arab region has become a hotbed of economic growth in recent decades. While this growth has indisputably brought in wealth, there are still countless questions about the characteristics, constraints, and implications of the region's systems of innovation. Do these systems even exist in the Arab region? How does the current economic structure affect regional innovation? Is the presence of natural resources a help or a hindrance? Economic Systems of Innovation in the Arab Region discusses the causes, consequences, and implications of poor systems of innovation in the Middle East and North Africa. By examining the comparative weakness of innovation, the economic structure, and the diversity of the region, Nour shows that the development of Arab regional systems of innovation is contingent upon the development of adequate economic policies and incentives in the area. Her contribution is key for students and scholars of economics, innovation, and international relations.

1. General Introduction
2. Economic Development Challenges in the Arab Region and the Need for Promoting the Systems of Innovation
3. Conceptual Framework and Literature Review
4. Overview of National Systems of Innovation in the Arab Countries
5. Overview of Regional Systems of Innovation in the Arab Region
6. Implications of poor systems of innovation in the Arab region
7. Summary and Conclusions

Mohamed Nour provides a very nice comprehensive and detailed account of the national systems of innovation in the Arab Region. She carefully identifies the impediments posed by the rent sharing nature of natural resource-based economies. The emphasis on proper institutional settings as a requirement for innovation and the systematic comparative study of (the lack of) these settings in the Arab region leads to a challenging analysis and also provides clear policy recommendations. - l³&