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The Rentier State and National Oil Companies: An Economic and Political Perspective
- The Middle East Journal
- Middle East Institute
- Volume 64, Number 3, Summer 2010
- pp. 427-445
- Article
- Additional Information
While the concept of the rentier state is common knowledge to Middle East scholars, very little has been written concerning the basic support and revenue tool for such states — the national oil companies. This article examines the micro-economic, financial, and managerial behavior of national oil companies, assesses their economic efficiency, and relates their operations to rentier state politics.