Egypt

ARAB SOCIALISM REPLACED FREE ENTERPRISE THROUGH A SERIES OF MEASURES THAT PUT MOST BIG BUSINESSES AND NEARLY ALL FOREIGN TRADE INTO GOVERNMENT HANDS AND IMPOSED CONTROLS OVER THE REMAINING PRIVATE SECTORS. PRICES BECAME SUBJECT TO REGULATION WITH A VIEW TO INCOME REDISTRIBUTION AND STABILIZATION, AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION BECAME A MATTER OF ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION. WITHIN THIS NEW CONTEXT, EGYPT"S FOREIGN TRADE REGIMES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARE EVALUATED HERE. THE STUDY IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS. PART ONE ANALYZES THE REGIMES AT AN AGGREGATE LEVEL FROM WORLD WAR II TO THE SIXTIES. PART TWO EXAMINES CROPPING PATTERNS IN AGRICULTURE, USING AN ECONOMETRIC TECHNIQUE THAT PERMITS MEASURING DEVIATIONS FROM OPTIMAL ACREAGES, ASCRIBABLE TO PRICE DISTORTIONS AS WELL AS TO DIRECT GOVERNMENT CONTROLS. FINALLY, PART THREE ANALYZES TEN IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES (TRADITIONAL AND NEW) DURING THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES FOR THEIR EFFICIENCY AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS.