Recherche de Rente et Processus de Reformes Politiques et Institutionnelles dans le Monde Arabe: la Leçon Marocaine

This paper aims at conducting an analytical exercise on the rent seeking phenomenon in Morocco with respect to political and institutional reforms. Following a brief methodological description of reform as a source of rent, we have outlined a variety of channels through which rents are created and transmitted during various stages of initiation and implementation of four kinds of reforms: i) trade reform; ii) reforms devoted to the restructuring of the productive system; iii) reforms targeted to the public sphere moralization; iv) political reforms. Political and institutional reforms are seen to initially rely on a dynamic bargaining involving several rent-seeking social groups. This is the case of major sector-based associations, the Makhzen-related bourgeoisie, bureaucrats, political parties, NGOs working for development, etc. The outcome of this specific bargaining seems to be the setting-up of a fragile political and social equilibrium. The current situation is characterized by a quasi-complete paralysis, hindering the efficient implementation of reforms. Only some technical regulations have been undertaken.