Political, Economic and Financial Country Risk [recurso electrónico] Analysis of the Gulf Cooperation Council

“Decades go by and nothing happens; then weeks go by and decades happen”. This apt saying encapsulates the dramatic convulsions taking place across the Arab world that first erupted in 2011 in Tunisia and which rapidly spread to other countries. These events have affected the lives of ordinary citizens in many more ways than had been intended when the ‘Arab Spring’ broke out, with the endgame still not very clear as demonstrated in countries like Egypt, Syria and Libya. By comparison, with some exceptions, the six countries comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council have been relatively unaffected by the general turbulence and uncertainties lapping around them. However, geopolitical shifts involving global superpower rivalries, combined with revolutionary breakthroughs in the non-conventional hydrocarbon energy sector are threatening to challenge the importance of the Arabian Gulf as the world’s leading suppliers of energy, putting their economies under fiscal stress. The author examines such challenges by: • Providing the first in-depth statistical analytical assessment of the GCC countries using monthly data over the period 2001 -2013 for the three risk categories- economic, financial and political risks- and their sub –components so as to enable policymakers enhance components with low risk , while addressing components with perceived higher risk, • Assessing FDI and capital inflows and outflows before and after the “Arab Spring” , and how to encourage FDI inflows, • Inter –Arab and GCC trade and synergies in power transmission , transportation links and establishing new hubs of centers of manufacturing excellence , • Exploring private sector-led growth models to reduce forecasted unemployment. Being complacent is not an option for the GCC. The aim of the book is that having a better understanding of each of the GCC countries’ individual risk parameters will enable the GCC meet future challenges and reduce the chances of a negative ‘Arab Spring’ occurring in the region. Mohamed Ramady is a Visiting Associate Professor at the Department of Finance and Economics, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. His main research interests are the economics of the Middle East and Saudi Arabia in particular, as well as money and banking He also held senior positions with international financial institutions in the Arabian Gulf and Europe. "Decades go by and nothing happens; then weeks go by and decades happen". This apt saying encapsulates the dramatic convulsions taking place across the Arab world that first erupted in 2011 in Tunisia and which rapidly spread to other countries. These events have affected the lives of ordinary citizens in many more ways than had been intended when the 'Arab Spring broke out, with the endgame still not very clear as demonstrated in countries like Egypt, Syria and Libya. By comparison, with some exceptions, the six countries comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council have been relatively unaffected by the general turbulence and uncertainties lapping around them. However, geopolitical shifts involving global superpower rivalries, combined with revolutionary breakthroughs in the non-conventional hydrocarbon energy sector are threatening to challenge the importance of the Arabian Gulf as the worlds leading suppliers of energy, putting their economies under fiscal stress. The author examines such challenges by: • Providing the first in-depth statistical analytical assessment of the GCC countries using monthly data over the period 2001 -2013 for the three risk categories- economic, financial and political risks- and their sub –components so as to enable policymakers enhance components with low risk , while addressing components with perceived higher risk, • Assessing FDI and capital inflows and outflows before and after the "Arab Spring" , and how to encourage FDI inflows, • Inter –Arab and GCC trade and synergies in power transmission , transportation links and establishing new hubs of centers of manufacturing excellence , • Exploring private sector-led growth models to reduce forecasted unemployment. Being complacent is not an option for the GCC. The aim of the book is that having a better understanding of each of the GCC countries individual risk parameters will enable the GCC meet future challe nges and reduce the chances of a negative 'Arab Spring occurring in the region. Mohamed Ramady is a Visiting Associate Professor at the Department of Finance and Economics, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. His main research interests are the economics of the Middle East and Saudi Arabia in particular, as well as money and banking He also held senior positions with international financial institutions in the Arabian Gulf and Europe Front Matter....Pages i-xxii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 GCC Country Risk and the “Arab Spring”....Pages 3-8 Country Risk Assessment....Pages 9-24 Front Matter....Pages 25-25 Indicators of Financial Risk....Pages 27-41 Determinants of Country Economic Risk....Pages 43-54 Country Political Risk Contents....Pages 55-63 Front Matter....Pages 65-65 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Risk Analysis....Pages 67-93 State of Kuwait: Risk Analysis....Pages 95-115 State of Qatar: Risk Analysis....Pages 117-140 Kingdom of Bahrain: Risk Analysis....Pages 141-160 Sultanate of Oman: Risk Analysis....Pages 161-178 The United Arab Emirates: Risk Analysis....Pages 179-200 GCC Composite Risk: Political Risk at the Heart....Pages 201-217 Front Matter....Pages 219-219 GCC Inward and Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Capital Flows....Pages 221-237 GCC Countries and the “Arab Spring”: Shielded but Not Immune....Pages 239-250 Conclusions and Recommendations....Pages 251-263 Errata to: Political, Economic and Financial Country Risk....Pages E1-E2 Back Matter....Pages 265-281 €œDecades go by and nothing happens; then weeks go by and decades happen”. This apt saying encapsulates the dramatic convulsions taking place across the Arab world that first erupted in 2011 in Tunisia and which rapidly spread to other countries. These events have affected the lives of ordinary citizens in many more ways than had been intended when the †̃Arab Springâ€TM broke out, with the endgame still not very clear as demonstrated in countries like Egypt, Syria and Libya. By comparison, with some exceptions, the six countries comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council have been relativ