“The Israeli Economy”
HIST 351/ECON 351-000/JS 370/MESAS 370R – all levels
Spring 2008 Semester – Paul Rivlin
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This course traces the history of the pre-independence and modern economy, examining the role of population growth and immigration; problems of inflation and stabilization; the balance of payments and sectoral developments. It analyses the role of the Histadrut, the defense budget; the economics of the peace process of the 1990s and Israel’s integration into the world economy. The effects of the second Intifada and the current rapid growth of the economy are also examined.
“The International Oil Market and the Political Economy of the Middle East”
HIST 351/ECON 351-00P/MESAS 370R – all levels
Spring 2008 Semester – Paul Rivlin
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This course examines the connections between world’s reliance on oil and the political economy of the Middle East. The first part of the course examines world energy markets and their development, with emphasis on the USA. It then places oil consumption into the wider energy context. The rise of China and India as energy consumers is also examined and some environmental issues are analyzed. The second part looks at the Middle East as an oil supplier: what was the role of the West and how renter states have come into being. Economic and strategic conclusions are drawn.