Economic Development, Trade and Investment: Determinants of Growth in SEMC -- Euro-Mediterranean Trade: Shallow vs. Deep Integration -- The EU-Turkey Customs Union: A Model for Future Euro-Med Integration -- Manufactured Exports and FDI -- Private Sector Development -- Sectoral Studies: Transport Infrastructure -- Agriculture -- Tourism in the Mediterranean -- The Textile Industry -- Information and Communication Infrastructure -- Financial Development: Determinants of Financial Development Across the Mediterranean -- Dynamics of Bank Efficiency in the EU and SEMC: Is There a Convergence?- Convergence of Banking Regulation -- Financial Development, Bank Efficiency, and Economic Growth Across the Mediterranean -- Financial Sector Development Scenarios -- Social Development: Education Systems and Their Impact on the Labor Market -- Measuring Returns to Education and Human Capital -- Determinants and Measures of Inequality -- Female Labor Force Participation and Economic Development -- Summary: The Economic and Social Policy Reform Agenda in the SEMC: Towards a Sustainable Transition.

This book contains a unique collection of studies on key economic and social policy challenges faced by countries of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region in a short- and long-term perspective. Prepared within the EU funded FP7 project on „Prospective Analysis for the Mediterranean Region (MEDPRO)” conducted in 2010-2013 it takes account on recent political developments in the region (Arab Spring) and their potential consequences. It covers a broad spectrum of topics such as factors of economic growth, macroeconomic and fiscal stability, trade and investment, Euro-Mediterranean and intra-regional economic integration, private sector development and privatizations, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, financial sector development, poverty and inequality, education, labor market and gender issues.