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Leapfrogging Into The Knowledge Economy: Assessing The Economic Development Strategies Of The Arab Gulf States

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  • MICHAEL C. EWERS
  • EDWARD J. MALECKI

Abstract

The oil-abundant, labour‐deficient countries of the Persian Gulf are investing their wealth towards creating economic development beyond oil. At a minimum, these strategies are attempts to craft the basis for sustainable economic development in a global economy that is more dependent on human capital and creativity than on natural resource wealth. This paper examines the Gulf development experience in light of theories on the diversification of natural resource‐based economies, the transition from pre‐ to post‐industrial development, and the role of services as an economic base. The paper assesses the Gulf's current development efforts and post‐oil, knowledge‐based aspirations in terms of the region's competitiveness, knowledge accumulation, and labour market structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael C. Ewers & Edward J. Malecki, 2010. "Leapfrogging Into The Knowledge Economy: Assessing The Economic Development Strategies Of The Arab Gulf States," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 101(5), pages 494-508, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:tvecsg:v:101:y:2010:i:5:p:494-508
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/j.1467-9663.2010.00628.x
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    Cited by:

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    2. World Bank, 2013. "Transforming Arab Economies : Traveling Knowledge and Innovation Road, Full Report [Transformer les économies arabes : La voie de la connaissance et de l'innovation]," World Bank Publications - Reports 16750, The World Bank Group.
    3. Druzhinin Alexander & Mikhaylov Andrey & Lialina Anna, 2021. "Coastal Regions of Russia: Migration Attractiveness and Innovation Performance," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 40(2), pages 5-18, June.
    4. Nadia A. Abdelmegeed Abdelwahed & Bettina Lynda Bastian & Bronwyn P. Wood, 2022. "Women, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability: The Case of Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Michelle Buckley & Adam Hanieh, 2014. "Diversification by Urbanization: Tracing the Property-Finance Nexus in Dubai and the Gulf," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1), pages 155-175, January.
    6. Peter Nijkamp & Robert Stimson & Patricia Van Hemert, 2010. "Human Capital As Knowledge Resource For Regional Development," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 101(5), pages 491-493, December.
    7. Matherly, Laura L. & Amin, Nadia & Al Nahyan, Shamma Sultan Khalifa, 2017. "The impact of generation and socioeconomic status on the value of higher education in the UAE: A longitudinal study," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1-10.
    8. Rottleb, Tim & Kleibert, Jana M., 2022. "Circulation and containment in the knowledge-based economy: Transnational education zones in Dubai and Qatar," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue (OnlineFi.

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