This course provides a comparative analysis of the economic development of Middle Eastern economies. The course deals primarily with the determinants of each country's economic development and the roles of historical, cultural, institutional, social, and political factors. The main focus will be identifying and comparing the relative importance of those factors that appear to have hindered or promoted economic development in each of the studied economies. Among the main themes to be explored are the roles of natural resource rents and state-led development, historical and institutional influences affecting economic growth, industrialisation efforts, foreign influence, conflicts, and intra-regional trade and investments. Analytical emphasis will be on identifying and comparing long-run determinants of each country's success (or lack of it) in achieving economic development. The knowledge gained from this course will facilitate successful employment in the private or public sector in economics, finance, trade, and investment in the Middle East.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate a rigorous, analytically informed understanding of Middle Eastern economies.
2. Understand and contextualise key historical and contemporary factors affecting the economic performance of Middle Eastern economies.
3. Comparatively assess and study the economic policies and structures of Middle Eastern economies.
4. Display in-depth knowledge of the economic challenges faced by countries in the Middle East and assess the economic prospects of these countries in the short to medium runs.
5. Discuss and analyse key topics relating to Middle Eastern economies.

Research-Led Teaching

The lecture content will include scholarly research in the field of contemporary economics of the Middle East including the lecturer’s own research. In addition, other data, research and concepts will be presented during the lectures that are not covered in the weekly readings. This material will be sourced from scholarly journals and presses, research institutes, consultancies, and international agencies. During the tutorials, students will have the opportunity to analyse, apply, and present on contemporary and historical developments, relevant theoretical concepts, and issues related to the economies of Middle Eastern countries.

Field Trips

There are no field trips for this course

Additional Course Costs

There are no additional costs for this course

Examination Material or equipment

No examination material or equipment is necessary.

Required Resources

The required resources for this course - specifically course readings - will be available for download on Wattle.

Recommended Resources

This course is designed to be accessible to students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds. Understanding of introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics concepts is helpful.

Preliminary Reading

Rauch, J.E., 2019. The Economics of the Middle East: A Comparative Approach. Oxford University Press, USA.

Hakimian, H. ed., 2021. The Routledge Handbook on the Middle East Economy. Routledge.

Noland, M. and Pack, H., 2007. The Arab Economies in a Changing World. Peterson Institute.

Naufal, G. and Genc, I., 2012. Expats and the Labor Force: The Story of the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries. Springer.

Aysan, A.F., Babacan, M., Gur, N. and Karahan, H. eds., 2018. Turkish Economy: Between Middle Income Trap and High Income Status. Springer.

Alizadeh, P. and Hakimian, H., 2013. Iran and the Global Economy. London and New York: Routledge Publishers.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

CRAWFORD ACADEMIC SKILLS

The Crawford School of Public Policy has its own Academic Skills team dedicated to helping students to understand the academic expectations of studying at Crawford and succeed in their chosen program of study. Through individual appointments, course-embedded workshops and online resources, Crawford Academic Skills provides tailored advice to students keen to develop their academic reading, thinking, planning, writing, and presentation skills.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Week 1 - Economies of the Middle East: comparative perspectives
2	Week 2 - Economic development fault lines: institutions and corruption
3	Week 3 - Natural resource wealth and economic policy
4	Week 4 - Capital markets, sovereign wealth funds, and investments	Response Paper 1 due at 5:00 pm Monday of Week 4
5	Week 5 - International and intra-regional trade
6	Week 6 - Conflict economics	Response Paper 2 at 5:00 pm Monday of Week 6
7	Week 7 - Environmental issues, food and water security, and energy transition
8	Week 8 - The Turkish economy: growth and the middle income trap	Class Presentation Tutorial of Week 8 and Week 9
9	Week 9 - The Iranian economy: sanctions and economic potential	Class Presentation Tutorial of Week 8 and Week 9
10	Week 10 - The Egyptian economy: human capital, structural imbalances, and reform
11	Week 11 - Saudi Arabia and the GCC economies: prospects for reform
12	Week 12 - The Middle East economies in a global context	Research Report due at 5:00 PM Thursday of Week 12

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial Participation (10%)	10 %	*	28/06/2024	1,4,5
Response Papers (20%)	20 %	*	*	1,2,3
Class Presentation (30%)	30 %	*	*	1,2,5
Research report (40%)	40 %	24/05/2024	28/06/2024	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Attendance at and participation in all classes is expected. All assessment tasks should be attempted to pass this course. Seminars will be delivered on campus and online through Zoom and recorded and made available on Echo360.

Examination(s)

This course does not have a final examination.

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial Participation (10%)

It is essential to your learning – and the learning of others in the class – that you are fully involved in the course. This means that you need to:

a) Attend class – though much learning will be done outside the classroom, class time is a valuable, scarce resource. You are expected to arrive ready to begin class on time; to not leave until class is over; and to attend all classes. If for any special reason you are unable to meet these requirements, please talk to the course convener about it.

b) Come prepared – it will be assumed that you have completed any assigned readings and prepared for the discussion questions prior to class.

c) Actively participate in the learning – we owe it to ourselves and our colleagues to participate as fully as possible in the class sessions.

For students studying remotely, participation will be assessed through engagement via Zoom.

Marking Criteria:

This component is intended to evaluate the level and quality of your contribution to tutorial discussions, which should reflect your analytical and problem-solving skills. More specifically, it assesses your ability to understand situations and diagnose problems and to communicate your views effectively. This assessment specifically addresses Learning Outcomes 1, 4, & 5 by evaluating your ability to communicate effectively throughout the semester on Middle Eastern economies. As the course will be delivered in a hybrid mode (face-to-face and remotely via Zoom), opportunities will be provided for all students to participate in the weekly seminars and tutorials. Your grade will be based on your attendance record and quality and breadth of participation.

Assessment Task 2

Response Papers (20%)

Students are asked to submit Two 750-words response papers worth 10% each. The response paper must provide an analytical reflection on one assigned reading from weeks 1 through 6. Response paper 1 must address an assigned reading from Weeks 1 to 3, and response paper 2 must address an assigned reading from Weeks 4 to 6.

Due date:

Response Paper 1: 5:00 pm Monday of Week 4

Response Paper 2: 5:00 pm Monday of Week 6

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines, including a marking rubric will be posted on Wattle at the start of semester (Week 1)

Return of assignments:

Assignments with grade and comments will be returned via Turnitin within 10 days of the submission date.

Assessment Task 3

Class Presentation (30%)

Students will form groups of 2 or 3 and present an economic overview of a Middle Eastern country. Each group is required to prepare a 20 minute presentation and PowerPoint slides on their chosen country. Students participating online will be able to provide their presentations through Zoom. Each group is also required to submit a 1,000-word summary report about their presentation. It is expected that each group member will be involved in the presentation and written summary report. The presentations should include an economic overview of a Middle Eastern country including, but not limited to, its trade relations, macroeconomic and fiscal conditions, socioeconomic challenges, and capital markets.

Due date:

Tutorial of Week 8 and Week 9

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines and marking criteria will be posted on Wattle at the start of semester (Week 1)

Return of assignments:

Feedback on your group presentation and grade will be provided within 10 working days of the due date

Assessment Task 4

Research report (40%)

Students are asked to submit a 2500-word research report worth 40% of their mark. This research report provides students the opportunity to conduct in-depth research of a topic of their choosing about Middle Eastern economies. The research report must demonstrate strong theoretical and analytical components and consult scholarly and primary sources on Middle Eastern economies. A list of optional topics will be uploaded on Wattle during Week 2, or an alternative topic can be determined in consultation with the course convener during Office Hours or Tutorials. The research essay must be 2,500 words in length (+/- 10%) and to include referencing and a bibliography. Note that the word count excludes references and the bibliography. The research essay must consult and cite at least ten scholarly and primary sources.

Due date:

5:00 PM Friday of Week 12

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines, including a marking rubric will be posted on Wattle at the start of semester (Week 2).

Submission instructions:

Assignments are to be word-processed. The use of professional expression and presentation is expected. The Crawford Referencing style is to be used. Links to the Crawford referencing style are available on the course website. You are required to submit an electronic copy of your assignment to Turnitin via the Wattle website. Further information about Turnitin is provided below.

Return of assignments:

Assignments with grade and comments will be returned via Turnitin and made available within 14 days of the submission date.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

Not applicable.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

Extensions

All requests for extensions to assessments must be submitted to the course convener before the due date and time and must include supporting documentation. Extension to assessment applications submitted after the due date or without supporting documentation will not be accepted. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an approved extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Please see relevant assessment task details above.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Not permitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students