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An Analysis of the Mobile Telephone Sector in MENA: Potential for Deregulation and Privatization

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  • Sam Hakim

    (Pepperdine University, USA.)

  • Simon Neaime

Abstract

This study evaluates the growth and trend in the mobile telephone sector in several MENA countries between 1995 and 2007. We find that the magnitude of demand elasticities do not entice collusive behavior between service providers because the effect of price reductions is neutral on total revenues; we also find that the cost of service and administrative corruption have a strong negative effect on mobile penetration, which, surprisingly, is higher in countries with more unequal income distribution. With respect to the degree and scope of liberalization of the mobile sector, we find that the direction of deregulation is accelerated in countries with a high proportion of investment, where the sector generates high revenues, and where civil society is generally free from government interference. At the same time, the liberalization is slowed in countries characterized by a high-income inequality and average cost of service. The study discusses how market reforms in developed countries fail to translate to developing countries because several negative externalities are often overlooked. We identify several factors that should be considered for liberalization to succeed and explain how to design a strategic path for reforms in the mobile sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Sam Hakim & Simon Neaime, 2011. "An Analysis of the Mobile Telephone Sector in MENA: Potential for Deregulation and Privatization," Working Papers 649, Economic Research Forum, revised 12 Jan 2011.
    • Handle: RePEc:erg:wpaper:649
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ezzat Riham Ahmed, 2017. "Fixed-Mobile Substitution in MENA Countries: The Future of Fixed-Line Markets," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 16(4), pages 387-417, December.
    2. Jala Youssef & Chahir Zaki, 2019. "A Decade of Competition Policy in Arab Countries: A De jure and De facto Assessment," Working Papers 1301, Economic Research Forum, revised 2019.
    3. Jala Youssef & Chahir Zaki, 2019. "Between Stabilization and Allocation in the MENA Region: Are Competition Laws Helping?," Working Papers 1319, Economic Research Forum, revised 21 Aug 2019.

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