Course Details

Course Information

Semester	Course Unit Code	Course Unit Title	T+P+L	Credit	Number of ECTS Credits	Last Updated Date
5	ECON343	ECONOMY OF THE MIDDLE EAST	3+0+0	3	4	14.05.2025

Course Details

Language of Instruction	English
Level of Course Unit	Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program	ECONOMICS
Type of Program	Formal Education
Type of Course Unit	Elective
Course Delivery Method	Face To Face
Objectives of the Course	Reviewing the basic economic history of the Middle East and North Africa. Introducing different institutional settings of MENA countries. Providing knowledge on economic resources and related characteristics of the MENA region. Introducing economies of some selected MENA countries.
Course Content	Course is designed as an introduction to economies of Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA). The regional economics, economic history, economic institutions, and resources that are characteristic for individual and for groups of MENA countries as well as methods used to analyze these subjects are examined. In addition, the concept and theory of “rentier state” is introduced. Knowledge about how these different factors influence each other is presented to enable students to understand the economic development in the region and also to gain an understanding of what to take into consideration in business relations that include MENA countries.
Course Methods and Techniques	Students will actively acquire knowledge and skills by reading at home the necessary texbook passages, discussing them in class, practising their skills during homework and by preparing a group prject.
Prerequisites and co-requisities	None
Course Coordinator	None
Name of Lecturers	Asist Prof.Dr. Heiko Schuss heiko.schuss@agu.edu.tr
Assistants	Research Assist. ayşenur durak aysenur.durak@agu.edu.tr
Work Placement(s)	No

Recommended or Required Reading

Resources	-
Course Notes	This course examines the economic structure and development of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Topics such as the economic impacts of oil and natural resources, institutional structures, international trade, and income distribution will be covered. Additionally, subjects like industry, agriculture, women's labor participation, and regional integration will be supported with MENA-specific examples. The course will be reinforced through group projects and quizzes.
Documents	-

Course Category

Social Sciences

%100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria

In-Term Studies	Quantity	Percentage
Ödev	5	% 10
Proje/Çizim	1	% 20
Total	6	% 30

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration	Total Work Load
Sınıf İçi Aktivitesi	14	3	42
Sunum için Hazırlık	1	14	14
Sunum	1	1	1
Proje	1	20	20
Okuma	13	1	13
Kişisel Çalışma	14	1	14
Takım/Grup Çalışması	14	1	14
Final Sınavı	1	2	2
Total Work Load			Number of ECTS Credits 4 120

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

No	Learning Outcomes
1	Use the basic economic history of the MENA region to explain the region’s past and current economy.
2	Analyze the influences of the institutional settings of MENA countries on their economies.
3	Analyze the influence of the resource characteristics of the MENA region on its economic development.
4	Analyze economies of some specific MENA countries.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week	Topics	Study Materials	Materials
1	Introduction: Defining the Region and the Methods used in Regional Economics
2	History - Classical Islamic Period, Colonialism, and Imperialism
3	History – Arab Socialism and Conservative Monarchies
4	Oil, Gas, Minerals and Development
5	Institutions and Economic Policy: The Rentier State
6	Lecture Free Week
7	Growth and Structural Change
8	Population Growth and Employment
9	Capital Markets, Savings, and Investments
10	International and Intra-regional Trade
11	Institutions and Economic Policy: Economic Liberalization, Structural Reforms and the Arab Spring
12	Economic Culture(s) of the Middle East and North Africa
13	Islamic Models of Economic Development
14	Case Studies from the MENA region

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

	P1	P2	P3	P4	P5	P6	P7	P8	P9
C1	5	3	3	4	3	3	5	3	3
C2	4	3	3	4	3	2	5	3	3
C3	4	3	3	4	3	3	5	3	3
C4	4	3	3	4	3	3	5	3	3

Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant

https://sis.agu.edu.tr/oibs/bologna/progCourseDetails.aspx?curCourse=72351&lang=en

Return to Classes