The Potential Effect of Peace on Regional Economic Cooperation in the Middle East

Abstract

The peace process in the Middle East has heightened the prospects of potential benefits from regional economic cooperation. However, its actual implementation is subject to many constraints, stemming from the economic gaps between the countries, significant differences in social and economic structures and the prevalence of other non-economic priorities. Patterns of economic cooperation in specific fields (projects, trade, labor and capital) are identified and analyzed in terms of their sensitivity to constraints and of their potential contribution.