This paper attempts to shed some light on the problems and prospects of trade liberalization in financial services for selected Arab countries. The paper starts by considering the background of GATT and the case for trade liberalization. It then highlights the case of the Uruguay Round with...

This paper discusses the reasons for state intervention in the financial sector in Egypt and analyzes major tools of intervention such as setting ceilings on interest rates, imposing high reserve requirements, developing directed credit schemes and intervention in the portfolio composition of...

Recent economic and political developments have highlighted a challenge shared across the Arab region of generating employment, promoting inclusive growth, and improving competitiveness. In the short run, weakened macroeconomic fundamentals in the developing economies of the Middle East and...