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Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Middle East: Current Challenges and Recommended Policies

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Innovation in Emerging Markets

Part of the book series: International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

Abstract

Despite an unstable political climate, innovation in the Middle East has enormous potential if regulatory reforms can be implemented. While Israel may have been at the forefront of entrepreneurial activity, other nations in the region are showing signs of growth in innovative start-ups and services. In this chapter, we will focus our discussion on those countries that have implemented business reforms and exhibited notable financial investment, organizational support, and individual start-ups. These same economies have also experienced transitions and shifts in access to technology. It is not difficult to find individual examples of high-tech start-ups, incubator labs, and serious capital investments — but such innovation may be surprising, given the continued level of unrest and uncertainty in the region. While it may be tempting to treat the Middle East as one homogeneous region, it is important not to aggregate all the countries and cultures, as each has its own set of advantages and challenges.

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Authors
  1. Norean R. Sharpe
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  2. Christopher M. Schroeder
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Florida International University, USA

    Jerry Haar (Professor of Management and International Business, senior research fellow, Global Fellow) (Professor of Management and International Business, senior research fellow, Global Fellow)

  2. McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, USA

    Jerry Haar (Professor of Management and International Business, senior research fellow, Global Fellow) & Ricardo Ernst (Professor of Operations and Global Logistics, Managing Director of the Global Business Initiative, Managing Director of the Latin American Board, and former Deputy Dean) (Professor of Management and International Business, senior research fellow, Global Fellow) &  (Professor of Operations and Global Logistics, Managing Director of the Global Business Initiative, Managing Director of the Latin American Board, and former Deputy Dean)

  3. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, USA

    Jerry Haar (Professor of Management and International Business, senior research fellow, Global Fellow) (Professor of Management and International Business, senior research fellow, Global Fellow)

Copyright information

© 2016 Norean R. Sharpe and Christopher M. Schroeder

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Sharpe, N.R., Schroeder, C.M. (2016). Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Middle East: Current Challenges and Recommended Policies. In: Haar, J., Ernst, R. (eds) Innovation in Emerging Markets. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137480293_5

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