Political Economy of Import Substitution Industrialization in Egypt (1950-1970)

This article tries to shed light on Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI) in Egypt. The country had witnessed political instability, social changes, and economic hardships. In this regard, those signs are better understood by having a retrospective view into its economic and political history. Egypt drowned in many wars after it got over British Colony. We attempt to analyze political and economic institutions and their role in political economy of the country. Political, international, economic, and institutional context differed with each government and president. This explains the divergence in economic performance. It is argued that some factors such as institutional framework, political and economic ideology, social coalitions, and international financial institutions affected implementation and success of ISI.