Publication

This report addresses the economic reconstruction of Iraq after the US-led invasion and explains how and why many of the reconstruction efforts remained unsuccessful. The paper assesses the economic situation of Iraq and presents reasons for the obvious failure, including the absence of a plan, ideological interference and institutional dysfunctions. Subsequently, the paper reviews the problems of unemployment, corruption and lack of transparency and explores options for international assistance. The paper argues that the fundamental challenge will be to devise a coherent reconstruction strategy that focuses on immediate material improvement and sets the stage for longer-term rebuilding.