THE ECONOMY OF ARAB COUNTRIES BEFORE AND AFTER THE «ARAB SPRING»

This article aims to study, analyze and assess the nature of economic growth in the Arab countries in the period 1990-2023, in order to determine the aspects of economic and social sustainability. Considering that the early 1990s were characterized by the participation of the Arab countries in the decisions of the Washington Consensus of 1989, based on the development of public policy based on the market economy and the developing role of the private sector in the national economy, as well as in stimulating economic growth, such analysis is of particular interest. The main objective of this article is to analyze and assess the quantity, quality and stability of economic growth, as well as trends in the dynamics of labor productivity, production and industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including the Persian Gulf states. The novelty of the study lies in the wide coverage of the analysis of economic indicators compared to other countries. The study is also aimed at analyzing the impact of internal and external factors on labor productivity. The objectives of the study include analyzing the dynamics of productivity, identifying the key factors influencing the decline and increase in growth rates. The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of using the research results for further research of strategies for improving the efficiency of the economic sector in the Arab countries. Taking into account the differences in the economic sector in the MENA countries, the study relied on an analytical approach supported by descriptive and comparative methods. The main attention is paid to economic and statistical data on the Arab countries and their comparative analysis for the period 1990-2023. The research methodology is based on the collection and analysis of statistical data on GDP, labor productivity and economic indicators in the Arab countries. In addition to using comparative analysis methods, as well as statistical tools for assessing productivity changes in recent years, the main objective of the study was both to identify the factors that influence the decline in productivity growth and to find ways to improve the efficiency of the industrial sector. The comparative method used in the article made it possible to give an objective assessment of the current state of the Arab economy in the global context. The main results show that the rate of productivity growth in the Arab countries is significantly lower than in other regions of the world, especially after the Arab Spring. The analysis revealed key factors influencing both internal economic difficulties and external influences.