State-society relations and labor markets in the gulf economies

Abstract EN

As in the rest of the middle east and north Africa region, job creation for an expanding labor force has become the most pressing development challenge facing the economies of the gulf cooperation council ( GCC ) .

the GCC countries share other striking similarities with the rest of region : in the structure of labor markets, in the evolution of socioeconomic profiles, and in the nature of state intervention in the economy, especially in labor markets.

Utilizing a comparative regional framework, this paper provides a diagnostic review of recent outcomes and examines policy options to accelerate job creation in the future.

The paper also pays attention to the broader political- economic aspects of state- society relations.