The Political economy of contemporary Egypt

Egypt's economy is afflicted with daunting problems: overpopulation, high unemployment and inflation, a crushing debt service burden, budget deficits, price-cost distortions, low productivity and acute external imbalances; and these problems have worsened under the impact of the Gulf War. Contributors to the symposium that gave rise to this book do not minimize the difficulties but they do accentuate the positive in pointing out action that can be taken to improve the situation. Three of the chapters give as clear a picture and as informed a critique of the U.S. aid program and the debt question as can be found anywhere. The book also has some solid chapters on the political system and opposition movements in the 1980s. -- from http://www.foreignaffairs.com (August 28, 2012).