Die Haushaltsplane - Syriens, Israels, Saudi Arabiens - Eine Fragmentarische Betrachtung = The Budget Plans of Syria, Israel, and Saudi Arabia - A Fragmentary Consideration

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Original printed wraps 21x30cm, 21pp. Ex-Koln University Library copy with stamps and labels to the front, one of which stating withdrawn "aus der Bibliothek ausgeshieden". Wraps good with some dusting and a couple of short closed tears, interiors very good without institutional markings. Rare, with only 7 locations on Worldcat; not recorded on Jisc. Noting that budget plans tend only to be circulated among a limited number of people in broad outline, the anonymous author recognises the importance of delving deeper into those of fledgling states. This work presents and analyses available revenue and expenditure data for Syria, Israel and Saudi Arabia, with potential explanations and implicit commentary about credibility, balance of spending priorities, etc. Syria (pp2-3) is described as a country that can boast centuries of close ties with Europe. The Israeli budget (pp4-5) is larger and more structured, with similarities to Syria with very high spending on education and health for example. Significantly more attention is reserved for Saudi Arabia (pp6-21) based on remarkably disaggregated Finance Ministry data for 1952-3. The author uses these to provide fascinating insights into the early stages of building the modern Saudi state out of a barter economy in which the King is still considered to be the owner of the entire country, its natural resources and income. Until 5 years ago, income came mainly from Hajj, which also involved considerable expenses for Ibn Saud. There is a detailed description of how dramatically oil changed the country, and the challenges this has posed. The character of Ibn Saud is assessed, who in 1952 decreed that the 1952-3 budget be drawn up in spite of this involving greater accountability and less freedom of control over the finances, and overseen by the "all powerful" Minister Abdullah Soliman. The author interprets the budget as a statement of intent to lay the foundations for necessary reforms. However there is a seeming imbalance towards the royal family (35m for palaces and members of the Royal House, 66m for offices attached to them, and 50m for tribal chiefs and their militias) relative to eg, electricity plants and well construction (7.5m). The budget thus remains "a purely royal affair" bestowed upon the people, but there is progress with the 1954-5 budget. Eg, the relinquishment of payments to Bedouin tribes and militia suggesting less direct control in favour of regular forces and police, and an "extraordinary progression" from the personal government of the King to one of a Cabinet of Ministers. N° de ref. del artículo 4996

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