A new Arab social contract? Institutional perspectives for economic reform in Arab countries

Public Habilitation Colloquium Dr. Maximilian Benner

The habilitation thesis builds a conceptual bridge between economic geography and Middle Eastern political economy by synthesizing various theoretical approaches on socio-economic regulation and focusing them on the particular case of core Arab economies such as Tunisia and Jordan. This conceptual synthesis offers an institutional lens for understanding and analyzing processes of economic development and reform in Arab countries that can be applied in comprehensive empirical research in the future. Hence, the thesis provides a conceptual basis for a research agenda to understand socio-economic processes in Arab countries under the umbrella of the EU neighborhood policy. 

Maximilian Benner studied business administration and economics in Munich and Hagen and completed his doctoral studies in geography at Heidelberg University in 2011. He has worked in various positions in applied research and teaches at Heidelberg University, the University of Vienna, Hafen City University, and the University of Klagenfurt. He currently works as a post-doctoral researcher at Heidelberg University. His research focuses on institutional and evolutionary economic geography in EU enlargement and neighborhood countries. 

Organiser:
Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy & Department of Geography and Regional Research