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Entrepreneurship And Governance In The Arab Region — A Review Of Recent Literature To Prioritize Policy Challenges

Author

Listed:
  • MOUNIR MAHMALAT

    (Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland)

  • DENISE SUMPF

    (United Nations Economic and Social, Commission for Western Asia, Beirut, Lebanon)

Abstract

The “Arab Spring” drew attention worldwide to the dire socio-economic conditions in many Arab countries. Efforts to explain, address and resolve these challenges led to a surge in both academic research as well as a plethora of policy recommendations from very different perspectives. By focusing on a crucial area for employment and growth in the Arab region — economic governance and entrepreneurship — the present paper consolidates the vast research and policy recommendations available based on a ‘best evidence’ approach and identifies three priority policy challenges to facilitate entrepreneurship: competition policy, access to finance and entrepreneurial education. We argue that improvement of economic governance tailored to improve these policy areas is a crucial lever for promoting entrepreneurship and creating employment in Arab countries. Highlighting interdependences between these areas, we derive a set of recommendations for each of the identified policy challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Mounir Mahmalat & Denise Sumpf, 2020. "Entrepreneurship And Governance In The Arab Region — A Review Of Recent Literature To Prioritize Policy Challenges," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 25(01), pages 1-26, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jdexxx:v:25:y:2020:i:01:n:s1084946720500065
    DOI: 10.1142/S1084946720500065
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    References listed on IDEAS

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