TITLE:
Getting Ready for the Post-Oil Age: The Entrepreneurship as the Rising Star of Development Policies in the Gulf States
AUTHORS:
Mehtap Isik
KEYWORDS:
Entrepreneurship, Economic Growth, Gulf Cooperation Countries, Industrial Policies
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Economy,
Vol.9 No.1,
January
12,
2018
ABSTRACT: Gulf Cooperation Council countries have been
offering opportunities to attract global investors for a while. Yet, the strong
tension between the existing government structures and the democratic elements
that are needed for investments to flourish creates a complicated economic
environment. Besides, the external dynamics sourced from international
relations in the region add a new dimension to the problem. For many economies
of the same characteristics, governmental supports for entrepreneurial
activities rise as a natural solution for many problems. Is it the case for the
Gulf States, too? This study, first, draws a framework in order to explore the
extent of the new entrepreneur-led growth policies in the region and relates
the possible policies to the existing economic problems. Then, three markets,
the Kuwaiti labor market which is a good representative of other Gulf States’
labor markets, renewable energy markets and biotechnology markets which have
increasing roles in new industrial policies, are studied to examine the
challenges and the opportunities created by these government policies. The
study reveals numerous opportunities offered to entrepreneurs and investors,
however further requirements to improve the conditions necessary for
entrepreneur-led growth are advised as policy purposes.