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Econ 344 Exam #1 Winter, 2012 Professor TwomeyPlease write your answers in a Blue Book, attempting to space them so that they appear in numerical order. The exam’s first three questions are obligatory; identifications (20 points), a map (5 points), and strategies (15 points). There are eight other questions, of which you are to answer five, and they are worth 12 points apiece. If you answer more than five from the second group, only the first five will be counted. Pace yourself – you have until 12:45 p.m.1. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: (20 points)a) Likudb) Gender gap and enrollmentc) Hasan Nasrallahd) SCAFe) Edward Said2. (5 points) Referring to the map on the other side of this sheet, identify the two countries labeled A and B, and

the capitals of each of the countries marked C, D, and E.3. (15 points) The Richards and Waterbury text identifies several strategies of economic development. Identify four

such strategies. Of the countries we have discussed in class (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian Territories), pick two and discuss which strategy they have chosen, and how successful they have been with it.

[answer five of the following eight questions. 12 points apiece]4. The Word Bank’s report on Reproductive Health in Jordan states “Gender equality and women’s empowerment

are important for reproductive health. Identify two of the Bank’s statistical measures of reproductive health care, and three variables that are associated with improving gender equality and empowerment. According to the Bank’s data, is Jordan making progress?

5. What impacts on the economy of Palestine does the World Bank attribute to the presence of Israeli settlements in the West Bank? Beyond the issue of settlements, what have been the three channels of deterioration of the economy of the West Bank and Gaza, that the Bank attributes to the Intifada and the Separation Barrier/Wall?

6. Parker discusses several limits on the desires of Iraqi Kurds for complete independence. Discuss briefly two of them.

7. Gifford introduces her article about Syria with: “Bashar al-Assad proposed that Syria undertake a plan of gradual economic reforms that might eventually pave the way for increased citizen participation. . Now, after almost a decade, to what degree has this plan been implemented? Did Assad’s background prepare him to see through such a lofty plan?” What answers does this author provide to these questions?

8. The article by El-Rashidi lists some evidence that is cited by people who do not think the Egyptian military will completely give up power. Identify two examples. What self-interests does Springborg attribute to Egypt’s military, in the current political process? How might they go about protecting those interests?

9. In talking about the Arab Revolts, Dahi grants that one motive for them is authoritarian rule. He also mentions the question of whether these uprisings might have been responses to the neoliberal economic policies in the countries. What is his verdict with regard to this analysis, for the cases of Tunisia and Syria? Explain briefly.

10. What is meant by private and social rates of return to education, and why are they different? As described in R&W, what is the standard economic view of how these two compare in terms of magnitude, and how does that difference vary by level of education?

11. Rashid Khalidi asserts that realizing a just resolution of the Palestine question “… will depend in large measure on the Palestinians themselves.” Identify and explain very briefly two actions or strategies that he mentions.

The median on this exam was 73. The high was 98.

Econ 344 Exam #2 Winter, 2012 Professor TwomeyPlease write your answers in a Blue Book, trying to space them so that they end up in numerical order. The identification is obligatory, and is worth 16 points. You are to answer seven of the other nine questions, at 12 points apiece. 1. Identify the following with a sentence or two (16 points):a. Dutch diseaseb. KIbbutzc. Gecekondu2. (translate) “… the groundwater situation in [Yemen is] a ‘basket case.’”


3. What are the three main river systems in MENA that involve more than two countries? For each one, what factors - dams, large pumping stations, irrigation projects - affect the distribution of their water? Identify three examples of ‘allocative distortions’ of the price of water, in MENA countries.

4. With regard to land reform, which MENA countries seriously attempted land reform, and why is it generally judged to have failed? Describe briefly Hinnebusch’s vision of the reversal of Egypt’s land reform.

5. What has been the experience of urbanization in the major regions (MENA, East Asia, LAC, OECD, etc.), and how does MENA compare with the other areas? R&W comment “One of the ironies of development is that successful educational programs in rural areas swell urban population.” Why might this be true? Does it mean that countries should not attempt rural education? Discuss briefly. Finally, give three reasons why the cost of internal migration might have declined in MENA since WWII.

6. Two important avenues of reform are the privatization of SOEs and the growth of local stock markets. What are the attractions and perils of these policies? How might each of these policies affect (inward) Foreign Direct Investment?

7. Describe briefly the experience of one of the following countries with the implementation of the program of the “Washington Consensus” as described in the R&W textbook: Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria.

8. Identify very briefly five of the main postulates of the Washington Consensus. As described in R&W, how did Rodrik amend that position – give three examples. Joel Beinin is evidently critical of neoliberal reforms. Are his criticisms directed at the logical underpinnings of standard economic theory, or does he simply feel that the real world generates an outcome different from what the World Bank and its supporters predict?

9. As described by R&W, why did the majority of MENA countries experiences state-led growth? Identify three important political figures (by name and country) in the early period of MENA’s state led growth.

10. What are the advantages for MENA countries of belonging to the WTO? Which countries are not members, and why? What are the costs and benefits of having a currency union among the countries of the GCC?

11. Springborg describes a continuum of Middle East militaries, in terms of their involvement in their national economies. Which are the two countries he identifies as having a maximum existence of a “Military Inc.” and which ones are at the other end? For the region as a whole over the last two or three decades, has defense spending been rising or falling as a fraction of GDP? How does MENA compare to other regions of the world in this regard?

The median on this exam was 61. The high was 90 .

Econ 344 Exam #3 Winter, 2012 Professor TwomeyPlease write your answers in a Blue Book, trying to space them so that they end up in numerical order. The identification is obligatory, and is worth 16 points. You are to answer seven of the other nine questions, at 12 points apiece. 1. Identifications:

a. Peak oilb. Bonyadsc. Principalist factiond. The three principles of Islamic Political Economy (according to Choudhury)

2 .Ghadar speaks of an ‘economic coup’ in Iran. According to that author, who (individuals or groups) has made this coup, and who is losing power because of it? To what extent can the conflict of interests represented by that coup help explain the dramatic distancing between Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad?3. The migration of North Africans and Turks into Europe is similar to the migration of different peoples into the Gulf States, in that both have a common economic basis, which we might describe as differences in wages or incomes. However, beyond that, there are many differences in these two processes. Identify three differences between those two migratory flows. 4. What does Bayat mean by ‘post-Islamism?’ Discuss this idea, and relate it to R&W’s nearly synonymous terms “Islamist”/“Political Islam.” Where does the Iranian socio-political system fit into these two categories?5. Eakin mentions several ways that Qatar has affected last year’s Arab uprisings. Identify clearly and discuss three. Eakin also notes that Qatar has an ‘extraordinary economic situation’ – give two examples. Finally, how does that author describe and ultimately evaluate the Qatari government’s responses towards “popular revolt in its own neighborhood?”6. Adelman makes the following startling comment. “At no time has crude oil been scarce.” What does this mean?


Adelman also discusses several factors - historical political events, market factors, OPEC - that affected oil prices. With regard to the first two groups (historical events and market factors), identify and briefly discuss three, and state how they affected prices. Finally, what is meant by price doves and price hawks? Which countries are leaders in which groups? What are leading economic and political factors determining which countries join the hawks or the doves?7. The world has many oil exporting countries. Name a couple of major non-OPEC oil exporters from the non-industrial (third world) countries. Name a couple of OPEC countries that are not located in MENA. Are there any MENA OPEC countries that are not Arab? Are there any MENA, Arab, oil exporters, that are not in OPEC?8. Tetreault and al-Ghanim write of Kuwait edging unevenly toward a political and economic opening, in a context

of a country that is presumably an oil-based ‘rentier economy’? Is their description of the Kuwait’s political environment consistent with the vision of it being a rentier state? Discuss. Is the role of private voluntary organizations in Kuwait – as mentioned by Tetreault and al-Ghanim - similar to that in Egypt as described by Clark? Discuss.

9. Deakin-Edwards cites Girgis about there having been three stages of immigration into the Gulf countries. Identify those stages with a sentence or two. R&W end their chapter on migration with the sentence; “The boom years of migration are fading into history.” Is this consistent with the interpretation offered by Girgis/Deakin-Edwards? Explain briefly the reasons offered by R&W for their statement.

10. Translate into plain English the following, from the summary of the chapter by Okten: “’Post Fordist’ organization of production brings about new paradigms and restructuring in the labor markets.” Discuss that author’s hypothesis that an “Islamic” female role is quite compatible with this new situation. Is this analysis specific to Turkey, or could it apply to other MENA countries, as well? Explain briefly.

The median on this exam was 73 . The high was 92.

Econ 344 Exam #1 Winter, 2011 Professor Twomey

Please write your answers in a Blue Book, attempting to space them so that they appear in numerical order. The exam has an obligatory question (#1) of identifications, which is worth 16 points. There are eight other questions, of which you are to answer six, and they are worth 14 points apiece. If you answer more than six, only the first six will be counted. Pace yourself – you have until 2:20 p.m.

1. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two:a. Dependency ratiob. Hassan al-Bannac. Ba’athd. Copt e. Special Tribunal for Lebanon

2. The Richards and Waterbury text identifies several strategies of economic development. Identify four such strategies. Of the countries we have discussed in class (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian Territories), pick two and discuss which strategy they have chosen, and how successful they have been with it.

3. What impacts on the economy of Palestine does the World Bank attribute to the presence of Israeli settlements in the West Bank? How has the construction of the Separation Barrier/Wall affected the economy of the local Palestinians, according to the World Bank? What have been the three channels of deterioration of the economy of the West Bank and Gaza, because of the Intifada and the Wall?

4. Identify and explain briefly three socio-economic factors that determine fertility levels. In what ways can government policy affect fertility? What has been the post-Revolutionary experience of Iran in terms of population policy? As described by R&W, name one (other) Middle East country that has taken steps to discourage population growth, and one (other) which has not.

5. Marlin Dick’s article about Lebanon opens the door to a technical/economic – as opposed to a political or religious- evaluation of Hizballah. “Whether or not Hizballah prefers to engage in domestic politics is irrelevant; it is under pressure to perform from its core constituency.” What is this author’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the technical/economic work of Hizballah?


6. Gifford introduces her article about Syria with: “Bashar al-Assad proposed that Syria undertake a plan of gradual economic reforms that might eventually pave the way for increased citizen participation. . Now, after almost a decade, to what degree has this plan been implemented? Did Assad’s background prepare him to see through such a lofty plan?” What answers does she provide to these questions?

7. The “Human Capital Model” has been used to criticize educational spending – R&W give the example of Egypt. What is the basic line of that argument? What other considerations lead to government policy makers taking actions that are contrary to the economists’ recommendations?

8. Beyond the rather constant skirmishes with Palestinian guerrilla fighters, what have been Israel’s main military conflicts with its neighbors? Identify them by country and year, and what ‘started’ them, and how they ended. You ought to be able to mention five.

9. What is the new ‘liberal bargain’ that Greenwood describes for Jordan? In his view, are political and economic liberalization independent, or do they arrive together? What are the economic components of that new bargain?

The median on this exam was 60; the high was 96.


Please write your answers in a Blue Book, attempting to space them so that they appear in numerical order. The first question is worth 16 points. Answer six of the eight questions from # 2 thru #9; each will be worth 14 points. Pace yourself – you have until 2:30 p.m.

10. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two:a. Patriarchal Gender contractb. Ribac. Harris-Todaro modeld. Riparian

11. What is meant by the phrase “bi-modal pattern of land tenure” of Latin America, how does it contrast with the “peasant system” of East Asia. According to R&W, which is generally more relevant for the MENA countries? In terms of Hinnebusch’s discussion of Egypt, why was the abolition of the land rent important in that country? Which groups (socio-political-economic) were in favor of its abolition, and who opposed it?

12. What are the three main river systems in MENA that involve more than two countries? For each one, what factors - dams, large pumping stations, irrigation projects - affect the distribution of their water? According to R&W, was the Aswan dam ‘worth it?’

13. What do R&W mean by Islamism (or Islamic Activism), and – according to them - who/what are the major groups or social actors that compose this movement? In their view, is Islamism an individualist/free enterprise/pro-capitalist movement, or a collectivist/state ownership type of movement?

14. What is meant by Islamic banking, and how does it differ from banking as typically practiced in the U.S. or the U.K.? What is meant by a murabaha contract, and what is R&W’s explanation for its prevalence amongst Islamic banks in MENA?

15. Translate into plain English the following, from the summary of the chapter by Okten: “’Post Fordist’ organization of production brings about new paradigms and restructuring in the labor markets.” Discuss that author’s hypothesis that an “Islamic” female role is quite compatible with this new situation. Is this analysis specific to Turkey, or could it apply to other MENA countries, as well?

16. Clark’s article is subtitled “Islamization from below?” What does that question mean, why might that be happening, what is her basic answer, and what is her evaluation of the phenomenon?


17. Are the MENA countries ahead or behind other non-European/North American countries in terms of the relative size of their urban sectors? Why does the informal sector exist, and what policy options are available to governments with respect to this sector. Many commentators on the recent political events in several MENA countries have pointed to underemployment as a root factor in political unrest. Does economic theory, as illustrated in our models, support the idea that underemployment represents political failure?

18. Tetreault and al-Ghanim write of Kuwait edging unevenly toward a political and economic opening. What is meant by an oil-based ‘rentier economy’? Is their description of the political environment consistent with this concept? Discuss. Is the role of private voluntary organizations in Kuwait – as mentioned by Tetreault and al-Ghanim - similar to that in Egypt as described by Clark? Discuss.


Econ 344 Final Exam Winter, 2011 Prof. Twomey

Please write your answers in a Blue Book, attempting to space them so that they appear in numerical order. The exam has an obligatory question (#1) of identifications, which is worth 16 points. There are eight other questions, of which you are to answer six, and they are worth 14 points apiece. Good luck.

Your final grades should be posted in a couple of days. Please do not email me about your final grade, or your grade for this exam. If you wish, you can pick up the graded exam when the summer term starts.

1. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two:a. IRGCb. Nationalization of the labor forcec. Ali Akbar Rafsanjanid. Recip Erdogan

2. In his article, Adelman makes several startling comments. Explain these two. (a). “At no time has crude oil been scarce.” (b). They (OPEC countries) will find the task (keeping the price of oil above $25 [then a high price!]) easier because policy in the consuming nations is still ruled by the irrational fear that OPEC may not produce enough for our needs.” Finally, Adelman discusses several factors - historical political events, market factors, OPEC - that affected oil prices. With regard to the first two groups, identify and briefly discuss three, and state how they affected prices.

3. The world has many oil exporting countries. Name a couple of major non-OPEC oil exporters from the non-industrial (third world) countries. Name a couple of OPEC countries that are not located in MENA. Are there any MENA OPEC countries that are not Arab? Are there any MENA, Arab, oil exporters, that are not in OPEC?

4. Smith and Mohamedi’s discussion of the “deal” by which oil links the ruling families of the Gulf with their citizens, claims that the old deal is being undermined. Why? What is the reason for their different analyses of oil and gas? This article is a decade old. Has subsequent experience shown them to be correct? Discuss.

5. Identify the main postulates of the Washington Consensus. As described in R&W, how has Rodrik amended that position?

6. Pick a country (from Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Israel) and describe its reform experience, in terms of time frame, actions taken, goals achieved, and overall evaluation.

7. The migration of North Africans and Turks into Europe is similar to the migration of different peoples into the Gulf States, in that both have a common economic basis, which we might describe as differences in wages or incomes.


However, beyond that, there are many differences in these two processes. Identify three differences between those two migratory flows.

8. Sariolghalam describes two major orientations towards national issues in Iran. Identify and describe them briefly – in terms of economic policy and foreign policy, and mention one or two individuals’ names who belong to each group. Also, Sariolghalam makes comparisons between the policies of China and those of Iran. Describe and comment briefly on these comparisons.

9. Ghadar speaks of an ‘economic coup’ in Iran. According to that author, who has made this coup, and who is losing power because of it? How does Iran’s experience of the presidential elections of 2009 support this argument?


Econ 344 Winter, 2010 Exam #1 Prof. TwomeyPlease write your answers in a Blue Book. If you are not able to place your answers in numerical order, make sure that the answers’ numbers are clearly indicated. The weights for each question are indicated. The exam is long: try to make your answers short and concise. Insert this question sheet into your Blue Book for when we go over the exam in the next class. Time: until the end of class.1. Identifications: Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: (15 points)

a. The three kings of Jordanb. Final status negotiations

c. Opportunity cost of having children d. Mohammed Reza Pahlavi e. Berber2. (5 points) Referring to the map on the other side of this sheet, identify the two countries labeled A and B, and the capitals of each of the countries marked C, D, and E.3 (10 points) Richards and Waterbury outline several strategies of economic development. Identify four strategies. Of the countries we have discussed in class (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel), pick two and discuss which strategy they have chosen, and how successful they have been.4. (10 points) What is meant by rentier economy? Pick an economy, and discuss what is the source of its rent, and how successful the country has been in utilizing it.5. (10 points) Lebanon is said to have had a war in summer, 2006. With whom? Why? Moreover, why is there a debate about who won and who lost? What is the importance of the answer to that question? Who does Telhami identify as the winners? Does the resulting polarization of the Lebanese population benefit or hurt that country’s major enemy, according to Shelhami?6. (10 points) What is the new liberal bargain that Greenwood describes for Jordan? In his view, are political and economic liberalization independent, or do they come together? What are the economic components of that new bargain?7. (10 points) What impacts on the economy of Palestine does the World Bank attribute to the presence of Israeli

settlements in the West Bank? How has the construction of the separation Barrier/Wall affected the economy of local Palestinians, according to the World Bank? What have been the three channels of deterioration of the economy of the West Bank and Gaza, because of the intifadas and the Wall

8. (10 points) The “Human Capital Model” has been used to criticize educational spending – Richards and Waterbury give the example of Egypt. What is the basic line of argument, and what other considerations lead to the actions that policy-makers take, instead of what the economists advise?9. (10 points) Identify and explain briefly three factors that determine fertility levels. In what ways can government policy affect fertility? Which countries have taken steps to discourage population growth, and which not? What was Iran’s post-Revolutionary experience in terms of population policy?10. (10 points) Compare and contrast ’ Nasserism’ and the Ba’ath party, in terms of time period, countries affected, ideology, rise and fall

The high on this exam was 96; the median was 77.


Econ 344 Exam #2 Winter, 2010 Professor TwomeyPlease write your answers in a Blue Book. If you are not able to place your answers in numerical order, make sure that the answers’ numbers are clearly indicated. The first question is worth twenty points, the rest are ten points apiece. The exam is long: try to make your answers short and concise. Insert this question sheet into your Blue Book for when we go over the exam in the next class. Time: the entire class.1. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: (20 points)a. Turkish paradigmb. Aquifer

c. Autogestiond. Ring roade. International poverty line

2. With regard to land reform, which MENA countries attempted land reform, and why is it generally judged to have failed? What factors does Hinnebusch have in mind when he speaks of the reversal of Egypt’s land reform?

3. What is meant by food self-sufficiency, and why do R&W consider it a “fading mirage?” What are the three river systems in MENA that involve more than two countries, and what factors affect the distribution of their water?

4. What has been the experience of urbanization in the major regions (MENA, East Asia, LAC, OECD, etc.), and how does MENA compare with the other areas? R&W comment (p. 270) “One of the ironies of development is that successful educational programs in rural areas swell urban population.” Why might this true? Does it mean that countries should not attempt rural education? Discuss briefly.

5. Distinguish conceptually between the formal and informal sectors. Does Bayat think that the informal sector in Cairo has grown or declined, in relative terms, since liberalization? Give three reasons why the cost of internal migration might have declined in MENA since WWII.

6. Identify the main postulates of the Washington Consensus. Are Beinin’s criticisms directed at the logical underpinnings and assumptions of the economic theory behind the Washington consensus, or does he simply feel the facts will generate an outcome different from what the World Bank and its supporters predict?

7. Pick a country (from Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Israel) and describe its reform experience, in terms of time frame, actions taken, goals achieved, and overall evaluation.

8. What is meant by the real exchange rate? In an inflationary environment, what should happen to the nominal exchange rate? Why is it difficult to maintain a constant real exchange rate in an inflationary situation?

9. Two important avenues of reform are the privatization of SOEs and the growth of local stock markets. What are the attractions and perils of these policies? How might these policies relate to (inward) Foreign Direct Investment?


Econ 344 Exam #3 Winter, 2010. Professor Twomey Please write your answers in a Blue Book. If you are not able to place your answers in numerical order, make sure that the answers’ numbers are clearly indicated. The weight given to each question is indicated. The exam is long: try to make your answers short and concise.

1. (15 points) Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: a. Zakatb. ARAMCO c. Labor force participation rated. vilayat al-faqihe. IRGC.

2. (10 points) Clark’s article about NGOs/PVOs is subtitled “Islamization from below?” In the context which she is analyzing:a) what does that question mean?b) why might that be happening, c) what is her basic answer to that question,d) and what is her evaluation of the phenomenon?

3. (10 points) What are the four Principal Instruments of Islamic Political Economy, according to Choudhury?


4. (10 points) The migration of North Africans and Turks into Europe is similar to the migration of different peoples into the Gulf States, in that both have a common economic basis, which we might describe as differences in wages or incomes. However, beyond that, identify three differences between those two migratory flows.

5. (10 points) Adelman makes several startling comments. Explain each. A)“At no time has crude oil been scarce.” b) “OPEC has no power of its own.” c) They (OPEC countries) will find the task (keeping the price of oil above $25) easier because policy in the consuming nations is still ruled by the irrational fear that OPEC may no produce enough for our needs.” d)“It the world oil market, the key role will be that of the non-OPEC producers.” e) “A mineral industry runs out of customers before it can run out of mineral.”

6. (10 points) A) Translate into plain English the following, from the summary of the chapter by Okten: “’Post Fordist’ organization

of production brings about new paradigms and restructuring in the labor markets.”b) Discuss that author’s assertion that an “Islamic” female role is quite compatible with this new situation. c) In your opinon, is Okten’s analysis limited by the specifics of Turkey, or could it apply to other MENA countries,

as well? 7. (10 points) The world has many oil exporting countries.

A) Identify (name) a couple of major non-OPEC oil exporters from non-industrial (third world) countries. b) Name a couple of OPEC countries that are not located in MENA. c) Are there any MENA OPEC countries that are not Arab? d) Are there any MENA, Arab, oil exporters, that are not in OPEC?

8. (10 points) An important part of Tetreault’s position is that gender politics in Kuwait effectively serves as a proxy for other issues. What are those other issues? In your opinion, how convincing is her argument?

9. (15 points) a) What do R&W mean by Islamism, and who/what are the major groups or social actors that compose this

movement as they describe it? b) As analyzed by R&W, is Islamism a individualist/free enterprise/pro-capitalist movement, or a collectivist/state

ownership type of movement?c) As summarized by El-Affendi, Bayat describes Iran as having a post-Islamist condition and project. Is Bayat’s

use of the term Islamism consistent with that in R&W? In your opinion, is Bayat correct in asserting that Iran’s situation is significantly different from that of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, or similar movements in Jordan, Kuwait, or indeed of the AKP in Turkey?


Econ 344 Winter, 2009 Exam #1 Prof. TwomeyPlease write your answers in a Blue Book. If you are not able to place your answers in numerical order, make sure that the answers’ numbers are clearly indicated. The weights for each question are indicated. The exam is long: try to make your answers short and concise. Keep this question sheet (or insert it in your BlueBook), for when we go over the exam in the next class. Time: until the end of class.

1. Identifications: Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: (12 points)a. Three presidents of post-monarchical Egyptb. economic rentc. Kirkukd. Oslo Accord(s)

2. (6 points) Israel has had many armed conflicts with its neighbors. Identify four, stating one (or more) of the people with whom the Israelis fought, and (roughly) the year when each occurred. [There is no need to get into a discussion of who won or lost, or who was morally right, or similar issues].3.(10 points) Referring to the map on the other side of this sheet, identify the two countries (A and B) and the three capitals of the countries marked C, D, and E.4. (10 points) In Kiernan’s view, why is Syria moving more slowly toward economic liberalization, compared to countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco? What is the role of petroleum in that country’s economy?5. (10 points) What is the new liberal bargain that Greenwood describes for Jordan? In his view, are political and economic liberalization independent, or do they come together? What are the economic components of that new bargain?


6. (15 points) Richards and Waterbury outline several strategies of economic development. Identify four strategies. Of the countries we have discussed (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel; not West Bank and Gaza) pick two and discuss which strategy they have chosen, and how economically successful they have been.7. (12 points) When speaking of educational policy, Richards and Waterbury state (p. 118) “The social returns are highest from investment in primary education… However, private returns increase with investment in higher education.” What arguments do economists give for this sort of statement? What implication is derived from it?8. (13 points) Henry refers (his page 2) of the “diminished appeal of Arab nationalism after Nasser’s death in 1970...” Why has this appeal declined? Give three examples of the impacts produced by that decline.9. (12 points) Identify and explain briefly three economic factors that affect fertility levels. Which MENA countries have actively tried to discourage population growth? Describe briefly the post-Revolutionary experience of Iran in terms of population policy.


Econ 344 Winter, 2009 Exam #2 Professor TwomeyPlease write your answers in a Blue Book. Try to space your answers so that they end up being in the correct numerical order; in any event, make sure the answers are clearly numbered. The weight of each question is indicated. Please ask for clarification if any question is unclear. Leave this sheet in your Blue Book, for when we go over the exam. Time: the entire class.1. (20 points) Identify the following with a sentence or at most two:a. Gecekondub. Silk Roadc. A.I.D.d. Fossil aquifere. Dutch Disease2. (10 points) Brief Answers:a. In Beinin’s discussion of neoliberal policies, he states that the poor were not the primary beneficiaries of Arab

socialist policies. Which socio-economic groups does he say were the main beneficiaries of those policies?b. In MENA countries, which sector of the economy uses the most water?c. Madanipour speaks of a ‘north/south dichotomy’ of Tehran. Name a couple of important differences that emerge

along this dichotomy.d. Bayat’s description of Cairo speaks of the ‘quiet encroachment’ of its informal sector. Give a couple of examples.3. (10 points) Distinguish conceptually between the formal and the informal sectors. Why does the informal sector

exist, and what policy options are available to governments with respect to it? In Madanipour’s discussion of Tehran, what are some examples of urban bias?

4. (10 points) What is the World Bank’s argument about the causes of the decline in efficiency in MENA production? What is meant by the “Turkish paradigm” and what does it have in common with, and how does it differ from, Arab Socialism? Our textbook provides several ‘types’ of political regimes in MENA. Was there any difference in the willingness to adopt reform policies, according to type of political regime?

5. (10 points) Identify four of the main postulates of the Washington Consensus. As described in R&W, how did Rodrik amend that position – give three examples. Joel Beinin is evidently critical of neoliberal reforms. Are his criticisms directed at the logical underpinnings of the theory, or does he simply feel that the real world generates an outcome different from what the World Bank and its supporters predict?

6. (10 points) Two important indicators of reform are privatization and the growth of local stock markets. What are the attractions and perils of these policies? Which countries have proceeded the farthest down this path? How do the policies of privatization and development of the stock market relate to the goal of attracting (inward) Foreign Direct Investment?

7. (10 points) What is meant by the real exchange rate? In an environment of domestic inflation, what should happen to the nominal exchange rate? According to standard textbook theory, as well as the Washington Consensus, how should countries change their exchange rates in response to balance of payments deficits?

8. (10 points) With regard to land reform, which MENA countries attempted land reform, and why is it generally judged to have failed? Discuss one country in a paragraph. What does Hinnebusch mean when he speaks of the reversal of Egypt’s reform?


9. (10 points) The following is an excerpt from last Wednesday’s newspaper: BAGHDAD (AFP) – Turkish President Abdullah Gul has promised to double the amount of water allocated to Iraq from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said on Wednesday.The announcement followed two days of talks during Gul's visit to Baghdad, the first in 33 years by a Turkish head of state. Why is Turkey able to ‘allocate’ water to Iraq? What other country can be so affected by Turkey? Extra credit: Besides generosity, what might be another motive for Turkey’s change of policy?

The median on this exam was 80; the high was 92

Econ 344 Final Exam Winter, 2009. Professor TwomeyPlease write your answers in a Blue Book, trying to keep them in order. Each question has a weight of ten points.1. Describe the pattern of oil prices during the second half of the twentieth century. Adelman discusses several factors-historical political events, market factors, OPEC, that affected prices. With regard to the first two groups, discuss three and how they affected prices.2. Saad Ibrahim (p.4) states that “Part of America’s reluctance to deal with Islamists reflected concern over the reaction of autocratic regimes, some of which are long-time allies.” In his view, what would those autocratic regimes oppose? What is Ibrahim’s recommended response?3. As described in the Vakil reading, how have the policies of Iran’s current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, differed from those of his predecessor, Mohammed Khatami? How does Vakil describe Ahmadinejad’s economic campaign promises, and his ability to fulfill them?4. Translate into plain English the following, from the summary of the chapter by Okten: “’Post Fordist’ organization of production brings about new paradigms and restructuring in the labor markets.” Discuss that author’s hypothesis that an “Islamic” female role is quite compatible with this new situation. Is this analysis specific to Turkey, or could it apply to other MENA countries, as well?5. Why is Saudi Arabia inventing a working class, and how are its options different from those of its neighbors in the Gulf, and those of other MENA countries?

6. The migration of North Africans and Turks into Europe is similar to the migration of different peoples into the Gulf States, in that both have a common economic basis, which we might describe as differences in wages or incomes. However, beyond that, identify three differences between those two migratory flows.

7. Clark’s article on NGOs in Cairo is subtitled “Islamization from below?” What does that question mean, why might that be happening, what is her basic answer, and what is her evaluation of the phenomenon?8. Consider three countries which have their own versions of Islamic regimes: Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. How do these countries differ on three criteria: 1) orientation towards free markets; 2) acceptance of democracy; 3) support of US policy in the region.

9. The world has many oil exporting countries. Name a couple of major non-OPEC oil exporters from the non-industrial (third world) countries. Name a couple of OPEC countries that are not located in MENA. Are there any MENA OPEC countries that are not Arab? Are there any MENA, Arab, oil exporters, that are not in OPEC?10. What is meant by Islamic banking, what economic sectors does it serve, and how does it differ from banking as typically practiced in the U.S. or the U.K.?


Econ 344 Winter, 2008 Exam #1 Prof. Twomey

Please write your answers in a Blue Book. If you are not able to place your answers in numerical order, make sure that the answers’ numbers are clearly indicated. The weights for each question are indicated. The exam is long: try to


make your answers short and concise. Keep this question sheet (or insert it in your BlueBook), for when we go over the exam in class. Time: until the end of class. 1. (15 points) Identify the following with a sentence or at most two:a. Rafiq Haririb. Who have been the three Presidents of Egyptc. Sykes-Picot Agreementd. Infitahe. Hizbullah

2. (10 points) Referring to the map on the other side of this sheet, identify the two countries (A and B) and the capitals of the countries marked (C, D, and E).

3. (10 points) What are the “globalizations” of which Henry speaks?

4. (10 points) Identify and explain briefly three economic factors that affect fertility levels. Which countries have taken steps to discourage population growth, and which not? What was the post-Revolutionary experience of Iran in terms of population policy?

5. (10 points) What is the “new liberal bargain” that Greenwood describes for Jordan? In his view, are political and economic liberalization independent, or must they come together?

6. (10 points) Identify Hizbullah and Hamas; where do they work, what do they do, in what ways have they evolved, and how do they affect the political situation of the countries where they work.

7. (10 points) In Kiernan’s view, why is Syria moving more slowly toward economic liberalization, compared to countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco? What is the role of petroleum in Syria’s economy?

8. (10 points) Lebanon is said to have had a war in summer, 2006. With whom? Moreover, why is there a debate about who won and who lost? What is the importance of the answer to the question of who won? Who does Telhami identify as the winners??

9. (15 points) Richards and Waterbury outline several strategies of economic development. Identify four strategies. Of the countries we have discussed (Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel) pick two and discuss which strategy they have chosen, and how successful they have been. What are the major types of political regimes that have been important in the Middle East? Identify those types, and illustrate two of them in terms of two countries that we have discussed.

The median on this exam was 81, the high was 91

Eon 344 Exam #2 Winter, 2008 Professor Twomey

Please use a Blue Book. Keep in mind that we have a time constraint of 75 minutes. To the extent possible, try to present your answers in their numerical order.

1. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: (15 points)a. Turkish paradigmb. Structural adjustmentc. (Turkey) GAPd. Bimodal pattern of land tenuree. Gecekondu

2. According to proponents of the Washington consensus, why does trade liberalization contribute to economic growth? For which MENA countries is trade liberalization (something similar to an FTA) with Europe a realistic


possibility, and what would be the attractions and perils of such an agreement for those MENA countries? (10 points)

3. With regard to land reform, which MENA countries attempted land reform? Discuss one country’s experience in a paragraph or more. Land reform is generally judged to have failed in the MENA region; in what sense did it fail, and why did it fail? (15 points)

4. Besides trade liberalization, identify six other policies of the so-called Washington consensus. Identify two amendments to that vision, as proposed by Dani Rodrik. (10 points)

5. As explained by R&W, why have the majority of MENA countries experiences state-led growth? Identify three important political figures in the early period of MENA’s state led growth. (10 points)

6. What are the three river systems in MENA that involve more than two countries, and what factors (economic and non-economic) have determined the distribution of their water? For those river systems, explain how the construction of dams and large pumping stations has underlined conflicts between the riparians. What are some of the factors that need to be considered in evaluating whether the Aswan dam was ‘worth it?’ (15 points)

7. Describe briefly the experience of urbanization in the major regions (MENA, East Asia, South Asia, LAC, OECD, etc.). In Madanipour’s discussion of Tehran, what are some examples of urban bias? (10 points)

8. R&W comment “one of the ironies of development is that successful educational programs in rural areas swell urban population.” Why is this true? Does it mean that countries should not attempt rural education? What is R&W’s view of whether urban shantytowns/slums have been sources of political violence? Is this consistent with Bayat’s vision of “quiet encroachment?” Explain. (15 points)


Econ 344 Final Exam Winter, 2008 Professor Twomey

Write your answers in a Blue Book. Try to keep your answers in numerical order. Weights are as indicated. Time: unlimited, which means less than two hours. If you wish to see your graded exam, please give me a stamped self-addressed envelope, or come to my office during the summer term. Please do not email me for your final grade.

1. Identify the following with a sentence or two: (15 points)a. ribab. Aramcoc. Murabahad. Ahmadinejade. Wilayat al-faqih

2. The migration of North Africans and Turks into Europe is similar to the migration of different peoples into the Gulf States, in that both have a common economic basis, which we might describe as differences in wages or incomes. However, beyond that, identify three differences between those two migratory flows. (10 points)

3. Keddie states (p. 27) that “A number of reasons may be adduced for the low relative status of ... women in the Muslim world, and the tendency to ascribe this to Islam does not begin to explain the phenomenon.” What are some of the other explanations suggested by that author? According to her, will the creation of democracy in places like Afghanistan and Iraq improve the status of women? Discuss. (10 points)

4. What might be two beneficial economic impacts of Turkey’s potential membership in the European Union, given that there already is a free trade agreement between that country and the EU, and thus tariff reduction will play a minimal role? Discuss some of the vested interests mentioned by Khan and Yavuz, which have hindered changes inside Turkey that might be needed to merit acceptance by the EU. (10 points)


5. Consider the three countries which have their own versions of Islamic regimes: Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. How do they differ on three orientations: 1) orientation towards free markets; 2) acceptance of democracy; 3) support of US policy in the region. (10 points)

6. Clark’s article is subtitled “Islamization from below?” What does that question mean, why might that be happening, what is her basic answer, and what is her evaluation of the phenomenon? (10 points)

7. Saad Ibrahim (p.4) states that “Part of America’s reluctance to deal with Islamists reflected concern over the reaction of autocratic regimes, some of which are long-time allies.” In his view, what would those autocratic regimes oppose? What is Ibrahim’s recommended response? (10 points)

8. Why is Saudi Arabia inventing a working class, and how are its options different from those of its neighbors in the Gulf, and more broadly the other MENA countries? (10 points)

9. Describe the pattern of oil prices during the second half of the twentieth century. Adelman discusses several factors-historical political events, market factors, OPEC, that affected prices. With regard to the first two groups, discuss three and how they affected oil prices. With regard to OPEC, what seems to be Adelman’s view of OPEC’s current ability to affect prices? The world has many oil exporting countries. Name a couple of major non-OPEC oil exporters from the non-industrial (third world) countries. Name a couple of OPEC countries that are not located in MENA. Are there any MENA OPEC countries that are not Arab? Are there any MENA, Arab, oil exporters, that are not in OPEC? (15 points)


1Econ 344 Exam #1 Winter, 2007 Professor Twomey

Please write your answers in a Blue Book. If you are not able to place your answers in numerical order, make sure that the answers' numbers are clearly indicated. The weights for each answers are indicated below. Time: until the end of class.

1. (18 points) Identify the following with a sentence or at most two:

a. Golan Heightsb. Hizbullahc. King Hussein of Jordand. Yasir Arafate. Ba'ath Partyf. Dependency ratio

2. (10 points) Referring to the map on the other side of this sheet, identify the two countries (A, and B) and the three capitals of the countries marked ( C, D, and E).

3. (10 points) After analyzing the deteriorating state of higher education in Arab lands, Fergany states that it could become "a mechanism for perpetuating backwardness of Arab countries in the 21st century." The standard economic analysis of higher education in low income countries is that it over-stimulates higher education at the expense of primary education, while also hurting the government budgetary situation. Are these two perspectives compatible? Discuss briefly.

4. (12 points) The standard migration model is that rural-urban migration is a function of the differences in incomes (or wages) in the two regions. Identify three simple ways that we might modify this model. An extension of that model specifically recognizes the existence of what is called the informal sector. Explain what is meant by this term, and give some examples, perhaps drawing specifically from the articles on Cairo (by Bayat) and Tehran (by Madanipour).


5. (10 points) In terms of the articles by Greenwood and Kiernan, compare and contrast how Jordan and Syria have been willing to institute economic reforms, of the type advocated by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

6. (15 points) Explain and illustrate with a graph what is meant by the term demographic transition. Part of this story is a reduction of women’s fertility: what socio-economic factors might cause this to occur? The governments of which MENA countries are worried about underpopulation, and wish to increase fertility? What is Iran’s policy?

7 (10 points) Our readings by Khalidi, Halevi, and the World Bank agree in attributing to the Palestinian Authority some degree of institution building. What does this term mean, and why is it important in the Palestinian context? What is meant by the World Bank’s reference to “the bleak fiscal picture” the Palestinian Authority has faced since March 2006?

8. (15 points) The Owen/Pamuk book states that "Most economists conclude that the Egyptian economy could, and should, have developed faster between 1945 and 1990." As summarized by O/P, why didn't the Egyptian economy develop faster?



Please write your answers in a Blue Book. If you are not able to place your answers in numerical order, make sure that the numbers are clearly indicated. Points for each question are indicated. Time: until the end of class.

1. (15 points) Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: a. Land to the tillerb. SAVAKc. Council of Guardiansd. Marsh Peoplee. Property rights

2. (10 points) Which MENA cities have the worst air pollution? What are its causes, and what are potential remedies? In MENA, what is the major demand for water – agriculture, industry, or direct human consumption?

3. (10 points) What do Nomani and Behdad mean by “structural involution?” What caused it? Is it continuing? Discuss.

4. (15 points) What factors does Yousef mention in his analysis of the strong MENA growth in the 1960s and 1970s? What factors led to the decline in growth thereafter? What does he mean by the Social Contract, and what are its major characteristics? What led to its creation, and what to its erosion? What is his analysis of the “political economy” of the demand for political and for economic reform?

5. (10 points) What are the advantages for MENA countries of belonging to the WTO? Which countries are not members, and why? What are the costs and benefits of having a currency union among the countries of the GCC?

6. (10 points) Explain the basic theoretical argument that abolishing sharecropping improves agricultural efficiency. Has this been true in practice in the MENA? Pick a country from MENA region, and briefly discuss its agrarian reform experience.

7. (10 points) In his discussion of post-revolutionary Iran, Shakoori speaks of conflicts between groups he labels “populists” and “liberal technocrats.” What issues are involved? Are these conflicts fundamentally different from conflicts in secular regimes of Egypt, Turkey, Syria and elsewhere?

8. (10 points) Translate into simpler English what Hinnebusch means, in his analysis of Egypt, by “The abolition of the tenancy law may be a first step in the replacement of small peasant production by larger scale capitalist production.” What reasons does he offer for this view? According to the descriptions of our various authors, was Egypt’s agrarian


policy determined dictatorially from the center of power, or more democratically by consultation with the various interest groups?

9. (10 points) Beinin begins his chapter with the statement “Until the mid-1930s the majority of the political classes of the Middle East espoused liberal projects of cultural and social reform and political and economic development that they expected would set their countries on what they understood to be the historical trajectory of France and England.” What should we understand to be the alternative(s) to “liberal projects” of reform and development?

The median on this exam was 80, the high was 97.


Please write your answers in a bluebook. The first question (identifications) is worth 20 points, and the other questions are weighted ten points apiece. I would like to leave by 5:15.

1 Identifications: RibaShirin EbadiTurgut OzalSeven Sisters Wahhabi Recip Erdogan PKK

2. According to Clark, why do NGOs (or PVOs) provide so many social services in Egypt? Her article is subtitled “Islamization from below?” What does that question mean, why might that be happening, what is her basic answer, and what is her evaluation of the phenomenon?

3. According to Owen and Pamuk, why was there a shift of source countries for labor immigrants into the Gulf States?

4. Kuran states (p. 169) “From a narrowly economic standpoint, the Islamic subeconomy is not a source of inefficiency.” What would be some aspects of the Islamic subeconomy that might be a source of inefficiency? In Kuran’s opinion, is this lack of inefficiency a result of neoclassical theory being wrong, or that the Islamic economy has not been implemented, or what?

5. Adelman makes several startling comments. Explain each. “At no time has crude oil been scarce.” When speaking of US-Saudi relations , “We [the US] have no hold or leverage over any producer nations.” They (OPEC countries) will find the task (keeping the price of oil above $25) easier because policy in the consuming nations is still ruled by the irrational fear that OPEC may no produce enough for our needs.” “It the world oil market, the key role will be that of the non-OPEC producers.”

6. Keddie states that “A number of reasons may be adduced for the low relative status of ... women in the Muslim world, and the tendency to ascribe this to Islam does not begin to explain the phenomenon.” What are some of the other explanations suggested by that author? According to her, will the creation of democracy in places like Afghanistan and Iraq improve the status of women? Discuss briefly.

7. What might be two beneficial economic impacts of Turkey’s potential membership in the European Union, given that there already is a free trade agreement between that country and the EU, and thus tariff reduction will play a minimal role? Discuss some of the vested interests mentioned by Khan and Yavuz, which have hindered changes inside Turkey that might be needed to merit acceptance by the EU.

8. Translate into plain English the following, from the summary of the chapter by Okten: “’Post Fordist’ organization of production brings about new paradigms and restructuring in the labor markets.” Discuss that author’s hypothesis that an “Islamic” female role is quite compatible with this new situation. Is this analysis specific to Turkey, or could it apply to


other Muslim MENA countries, as well? The paper’s hypothesis is that “the female role in an Islamic society, as modeled in accordance with political Islam, is quite compatible with the differentiated labor market structure in the post-Fordist production organization.” Would that compatibility be stronger in secular societies-such as Turkey and Egypt, or religiously oriented societies like Saudi Arabia and Iran?

9. The world has many oil exporting countries. Name a couple of major non-OPEC oil exporters from the non-industrial (third world) countries. Name a couple of OPEC countries that are not located in MENA. Are there any MENA OPEC countries that are not Arab? Are there any MENA, Arab, oil exporters, that are not in OPEC?



Please write your answers in a Blue Book. If you are not able to place your answers in numerical order, make sure that the numbers are clearly indicated. Points for each question are indicated. Time: until the end of class.

1. (15 points) Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: a. Balfour Declarationb. Hafez al-Asadc. Young Turksd. Capitulationse. Mustafa Kemal

2. (15 points) Referring to the map on the other side of the sheet, identify the three countries (A, B, C) and the two capitals (D, E).

3. (15 points) A major topic in an economics class about the Middle East must inevitably be the economic reforms that have taken place in the last two decades. Select two countries from those we have covered (Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza), and discuss the timing, motivation, scope, and achievements of these reforms.

4. (20 points) What is meant by the term demographic transition? Explain and illustrate with a graph.What are its causes, and what areas of the economy are most directly affected? Evaluate Laipson’s statement (p. 184) that “[T]he renewal of violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict contains several demographic subplots,” [i.e. causes]. In his study, what does Faour conclude is the relative weight of government policy, socio-economic variables, and the strength of Islamic Law in explaining the decline in fertility in the region?

5. (15 points) Roy cites the World Bank as asserting that, “[I]t will take 20 years to return the Palestinian economy to where it was on the eve of the current Intifada.” One could speak quite broadly and therefore perhaps unproductively of the cause of that decline simply being the conflict with Israel. In terms of the World Bank’s analysis, identify and explain briefly three proximate causes of this decline of the Palestinian economy.

6. (10 points) Greenwood speaks of Jordan’s “new liberal bargain.” What does this mean? Would it imply that the country is becoming more or less dependent on the U.S.? What was the effect of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war on Jordan?

7. (10 points) The article by Khan and Yavuz spoke of the “superficial westernization” of Ataturk. Discuss what they mean by westernization, and then in this case how it was superficial.

The median on this exam was 85; the high was 98

Econ 390G Exam #2 Winter, 2005 Professor Twomey

Please answer in a Blue Book. To the extent possible, please try to keep your answers in correct numerical order. Time: the full class—75 minutes.


1. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two (15 points):a) Wafdb) Aquiferc) Birzeitd) Land to the tillere) Feddan

2. (5 points each)a) In the article by Omar Razzaz about the urban settlements around Amman, mention is made to the “musha’ َland

tenure system.” What does that mean, and why is it important?b) In the class discussion about the Shah’s land reform in Iran (as well as in Shakoori’s article), mention is made of

two groups: nasagh- [nasaq-] holders, and kushishins. What do those terms mean, and what role do/did they play in that process?

3. (15 points) What does Beinin mean by his term “Authoritarian-populist regimes?” What are some historical examples? What is meant by the term “urban bias,” and should we expect the authoritarian populist regimes to practice that, or its opposite?

4. (10 points) Abu Lughod’s description of contemporary Palestinian higher education begins by noting its colonial and semicolonial context, and later he describes the Palestinian system as based on European/U.S. model. Are the limitations that Abu Lughod describes a function of the weakness of its design, because these systems are not transferable? Discuss briefly.

5. (10 points) Identify three characteristics of recent MENA investments in knowledge acquisition, as described by Zahlan.

6. (10 points) Identify and discuss some of the “design principles” of the Muslim City, as described by Saoud.

Answer TWO of the next three questions:

7. (15 points) What causes urban overcrowding? Can governments do anything to stop it? Discuss how, in theory, the following might affect overcrowding in major MENA cities such as Cairo, Damascus, or Tehran: a) a boom in oil prices; b) successful land reform; c) a movement away from ISI policies.

8. (15 points) Translate into simpler English what Hinnebusch means by “The abolition of tenancy law (in Egypt) may be a first step in the replacement of small peasant production by larger scale capitalist production.” Why might this happen?

9. (15 points) Pick a country from the MENA region, and briefly outline its experience with land reform in terms of the historical context and the measures adopted.


Econ 390G Final Exam Winter 2005 Professor Twomey

To the extent possible, please insert your answers on the pages of your blue book so that they appear in numerical order. Note that the weights on the questions vary. Time: 90 minutes, or until they throw us out. Good luck!

1. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two: (21 points)

a. Aramcob. Labor Hoarder (or Hoarding)c. Hassan al-Bannad. Post-Fordist organization of production


e. Infitahf. Shari’ahg. Mossadiq (Mossadegh)

2. Identify (in your Blue Book) the four countries on the map on the other sheet. (12 points)

3. (10 points) According to Clark, why do NGOs (or PVOs) provide so many social services in Egypt? Her article is subtitled “Islamization from below?” What does that question mean, why might that be happening, what is her basic answer to that question?

4. (10 points) The migration of North Africans and Turks into Europe is similar to the migration of different peoples into the Gulf States, in that both have a common economic basis, which we might simply describe as differences in wages or incomes. Identify three differences between these two migrations.

5. (15 points) a). In terms of actual policies--as opposed to rhetoric or political style—are the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as described by Karshenas and Pesaran, similar to those of authoritarian populist regimes? Give some examples to back up your position.b) What do Baktiari and Vaziri mean when they state (p. 36) “In the contest to define the nature of sovereignty in the Islamic Republic, the proponents of popular rights had defeated the advocates of divine rule, at least for that moment.”

6. (10 points) a). What is meant by Islamic banking, and how does it differ from banking as typically practiced in the U.S. or the U.K.?b. What are the four major positions (referred to as “Principal Instruments”) of Islamic Political Economy, according to Choudhury?

7. (12 points) In his article, Adelman makes several startling comments. Explain each briefly, indicating the rationale behind each statement. (A) “At no time has crude oil been scarce.” (B) “OPEC has no power of its own.” (C) [When speaking of US relations with Saudis] “We have no hold or leverage over any producer nations.” (D) “They [OPEC countries] will find the task [of keeping the price of oil above $25] easier because policy in the consuming nations is still ruled by the irrational fear that OPEC may ‘not produce enough for our needs’.” (E) “In the world oil market, the key role will be that of the non-OPEC producers.” (F) “A mineral industry runs out of customers before it can run out of mineral.”

8. (10 points) a) Keddie states that “A number of reasons may be adduced for the low relative status of ... women in the Muslim world, and the tendency to ascribe this to Islam does not begin to explain the phenomenon.” Identify three other explanations suggested by that author. b) Is it logical for Haya al-Mughni to claim, in her article, that women’s movements may inhibit feminist movements? Explain


Econ 390G Mid-term Exam Fall, 2003 Professor Twomey

Please print your name on the outside of your blue book. Write your answers in the blue book. Questions may be answered in any order; try to keep your answer to any one question together, and clearly identify each answer. With the exception of the last question, these are meant to be short answer questions. Please try to write clearly. Time: the full class, until 3:00 p.m. Please ask for clarification if any question is unclear.

1. (10 points) Identify with a sentence or at most two:a) Hafez Al-Assadb) Oslo Accord c) Dutch diseased) David Ben-Gurion


e) Sykes-Picot

2. (15 points) What is meant by import substitution industrialization (ISI)? Why might it be attractive to MENA countries? In what sense might there be an "easy" and a "hard" phase to ISI? Identify one country that attempted ISI, and one country that has not.

3. (10 points) Aharoni describes a changing political economy of Israel. What are major characteristics of those changes? Suggest two ways that these changes might impact Israel's neighbors.

4. (10 points) In class we have distinguished three or four patterns of growth of per capita income in the MENA. Identify them, illustrating each one with a graph and naming one or two countries that has gone through that pattern. What factors determined which countries went through which patterns?

5. (15 points) What is meant by demographic transition? Draw the graph that illustrates this phenomenon, identifying the axis and the curves. What actions can be taken by governments to affect this process?

6. (10 points) Identify the countries on the map on the other side of this sheet, by letter.

7. (10 points) About how many people lived in Palestine before 1948? After the 1948 war, how many of the Arabs (by which is meant non-Jews) stayed in the state of Israel, or in the areas we now call the West Bank and Gaza, and how many left to other countries. (By how many you can speak of absolute numbers, or fractions. In a pinch, terms like many and few can be used). What were the countries that received the largest groups of refugees?

8. (20 points) The Richards and Waterbury book argues for a sort of U-shaped curve of government intervention in the MENA countries. Discuss this for either of Turkey and Egypt, drawing comparisons and contrasts with one of they term "liberal monarchies." Indicate names of major leaders who participated, as well as reasons for the rise and for the fall of this sort of government presence.


Econ 390 Fall, 2003 Final Exam Professor Twomey

Please answer in a Blue Book. The exam is composed of two parts; identifications and essay questions. You are to answer seven of the identifications, and four of the eight essay questions. The identifications will be worth three points apiece, and the essays will be twenty points apiece. Note that you have to allocate your time accordingly. Note also that several questions are re-phrased from those of the study sheet. Please put the answers to the identifications all together in the first pages of your Blue Book. Labelyour answers clearly by using the corresponding letters.

Identifications. Identify the following with a sentence or at most two:a) ARAMCOb) Huda Sha'rawic) City lightsd) Ali Abdallah Salahe) Bedouinf) FLN (Front de Lib ration Nationale)g) Mohammed Mossadeq h) Crown Prince Abdullahi) Praetorian regimej) Ibn KhaldunEssay questions.

A. When was OPEC formed? Why did its members wish to raise the price of oil in the early 1970s, and what economic factors led to the success of that effort? What factors subsequently led to the collapse of the cartel? Why might OPEC members wish to keep the price of oil in a range of, say, US$ 20-US$25? In your answer, mention the


arguments against increasing the price of oil indefinitely, and the arguments against letting it fall back to a non-cartel equilibrium price.

B. What reasons can be given for the overthrow of the Shah of Iran? What phases have the policies of the Islamic Revolutionary government passed through? What are three aspects of the current situation that might lead President Khatami to describe the Iranian economy as "sick."

C. The growth rates of urban populations has been quite high in most MENA countries. What are the major causes of rural-urban migration? What can governments do to affect this migration?

D. Okten's article about women's work in Turkey argues that "the female role in an Islamic society, as modeled in accordance with political Islam, is quite compatible with the differentiated labor market structure in the post-Fordist production organization." What is meant by: post-Fordist production, political Islam, informal labor markets? Evaluate Okten's conclusion. If you agree, do you also think that her conclusion is important? If you do not agree with her, why not?

E. Algeria's history is different from that of any other country we studied in the course, because of the long presence of French colonialism. When did the French arrive, and when did they leave? During the colonial period, what changes happened to Algeria because of that French presence?

F. Two important minorities in MENA countries are the Berbers and the Kurds. Foreach group, what are the countries where the populations are most numerous? What are major current political issues because of their presence?

G. With regard to international migration, which MENA have sent the highest numbers (absolute and relative to total population) of migrants? To which countries have those immigrants gone? What have been the major causes of changes in this immigration stream since the late 1970s?

H. Our readings of Chourdhury, Timur Kuran, and Richards and Waterbury describe the principles by which a society governed by Islamic principles should operate. Identify some of the more important principles they discuss. In theory, how does this differ from a society guided by the principles of free enterprise capitalism? Identify some of the criticisms of Islamic Economics discussed by either Kuran or R&W, and mention briefly if these are basically of a theoretical nature, or practical.


econ 344 exam study sheets - www web viewecon 344 exam #1 winter, 2012 professor twomey. please...

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