Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Economies

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2014

Abstract

Although blessed with abundant solar and wind energies, North Africa has yet to maximise its socioeconomic gain from tapping these resources. In view of North African demographic and middle class expansion, energy demand is set to increase. Tapping renewable energy sources will not only address these problems, but also will be an impetus to the faltering socioeconomic dynamic the region needs to boost sustainable development to benefit from globalisation. However, with bureaucratic-laden institutions and corruptions hindering the private sector from flourishing, governments are compelled to mobilise public finances to cover the lack of private investments in renewable energy projects. Increasing investments in education and R&D to meet skills demand for renewable energy projects that continues to lag behind foreign contents as the primary input. Skills mismatch between the labour force and technology intensive renewable energy industry is a result of the people's aspiration and desire to work for the government shaped by post-independence policies. The challenge for North Africa policy makers is beyond correcting institutional deficiencies to transform its business environment, but also to influence change in the perception and attitude of the public.

Identifier

2334-282X

Journal Title

Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Economies

ISSN

2334-282X

Publisher

Middle East Economic Association and Loyola University Chicago

Volume

16

Comments

Presentation of the articles in the Topics in Middle Eastern and North African Economies was made possible by a limited license granted to Loyola University Chicago and Middle East Economics Association from the authors who have retained all copyrights in the articles. http://www.luc.edu/orgs/meea/volume16/meea16.htm

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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