The Economics of Palestine: Economic Policy and Institutional Reform for a Viable Palestine State (Routledge Studies in Development Economics)

This book aims to set the intense political debates on one side in order to do some serious economic analysis. It assumes that a sovereign independent Palestinian state comes into existence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and proceeds to examine the economic policies and institutional reforms which would be appropriate for it. Key recommendations are that such a state should: * adopt a non-discriminatory trade regime * introduce a new currency with a currency board and later a hard peg to the euro * establish a new type of pension scheme combining universal and work-based elements * adopt an economic strategy geared to the modern knowledge-based global economy and based on the identification of clusters, and * take a forward-looking approach to the compensation of refugees which relates compensation to the cost of absorbing returning refugees in a viable and growing economy. Budgetary policy, corporate governance, financial sector reform and foreign aid strategy are also discussed, and an incomplete contracts model of integration is presented. The contributors are internationally respected economists from a variety of countries and perspectives. Their analysis should be accessible and relevant to readers of many kinds, from students and academics involved with development economics, politics, and international relations through to policy-makers and those with a general interest in the Middle East. The Contributors Are Internationally Respected Economists From A Variety Of Countries And Perspectives. Their Analysis Should Be Accessible And Relevant To Readers Of Many Kinds, From Students And Academics Involved With Development Economics, Politics And International Relations Through To Policy Makers And Those With A General Interest In The Middle East.--jacket. 2 The Choice Of Trade Regime Depends On Multiple Other Factors / Sebastien Dessus, Elizabeth Ruppert Bulmer 12 -- 3 Alternative Currency Arrangements / David Cobham 38 -- 4 Budgetary And Fiscal Policy / Christopher Adam, David Cobham, Nu'man Kanafani 64 -- 5 The Role Of The Financial Sector / Osama Hamed 95 -- 6 Company Law And Corporate Governance / Clare Woodcraft, Khaled Islaih 113 -- 7 Structuring A Pension Scheme For A Future Palestinian State / Edward A. Sayre, Jennifer C. Olmsted 143 -- 8 Strategies For Economic Development, The Role Of Gaza And The Future Of The Refugee Camps / Eduardo Anselmo De Castro, Chris Jensen-butler 176 -- 9 Foreign Aid Strategy / Anne Le More 208 -- 10 Absorbing Returnees In A Viable Palestinian State: A Forward-looking Macroeconomic Perspective / Arie Arnon, Nu'man Kanafani 235 -- 11 Incomplete Contracts, The Port Of Gaza And The Case For Economic Sovereignty / Arie Arnon, Avia Spivak, Oren Sussman 281. Edited By David Cobham & Num̉an Kanafani. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The contributors are internationally respected economists from a variety of countries and perspectives. Their analysis should be accessible and relevant to readers of many kinds, from students and academics involved with development economics, politics and international relations through to policy makers and those with a general interest in the Middle East."--Résumé de l'éditeur