Title: Knowledge-based economic development as a unifying vision in a post-awakening Arab World

Authors: Wes Schwalje

Addresses: Management Department, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, UK

Abstract: This article traces the evolution of knowledge-based economic development in the Arab World. In pursuing this objective, many countries in the region have made large state-driven human capital investments with the goals of job creation, economic integration, economic diversification, environmental sustainability, and social development. An assessment of the effectiveness of Arab investments in human capital shows marginal progress towards knowledge-based development over the last decade. A disconnect between the skills developed in Arab skills formation systems and those required by private sector employers relegates Arab businesses to contesting lower-skilled, non-knowledge intensive industries which has stalled knowledge-based development in the region.

Keywords: skills development; knowledge-based economy; economic policies; workforce planning; Middle East; knowledge-based development; economic development; skills formation; human capital investment; Arab World.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2014.068073

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2014 Vol.14 No.1/2/3, pp.47 - 73

Published online: 26 Mar 2015 *

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