Development Strategies in Iran and Algeria: A Comparative Study

This paper aims to review the multiple dimensions of development strategies in Iran and Algeria in order to advance a comparative study of the two strategies. Similarities and differences in the process of implementing these strategies and their results during the last two decades are stated. The paper starts from the simple notion that since the state in both countries play a major role in the development of the economy and society, and both economies rely on the petrochemicals sector to generate growth and development, it‘s expected that the results of these strategies would be similar in terms of economic and social development. However, the findings of this study reveal that the similarities and differences in Iran and Algeria‘s development strategies and their results can be explained not only by the position of the state in managing the affairs of the economy and society and/or the similarity in the two countries resources endowments but also by the changes in their strategies of development in conjunction with the type and seriousness of internal and external economic and political constraints and pressures. The explanatory approach adopted for the purposes of this study is the new comparative economics approach (NCE). NCE stresses on the idea that ―the center of analysis in comparative economic systems is the institutions that form the economic system, and the need to analyse the consequences deriving from the inter-country differences among particular institutions‖.

Keywords:

Iran , Algeria , development strategy , new comparative economics