Qatar 1995 2020 Economic Change

Paragraph: Economic Change in Qatar/Introduction to Social Change in Qatar

Very few countries have experienced economic transformation to the extent that Qatar has over the last few decades. As it has been indicated elsewhere in this discussion, one key factor that has been instrumental in the economic transformation of Qatar is the country’s discovery and subsequent development of the hydrocarbon sector. As a matter of fact, this could be considered the primary motor of the country’s economic and social progress over the last 8 decades – following the discovery of oil in 1940. It is important to note that although, as Harkness (2020) points out, the non-oil economy also been on an upward trend as well (growing by as much as 10% in the preceding decade – 2000-2011), the said growth cannot be set aside “from the hydrocarbon industry because it was the investments that were made in construction, utilities and transportation projects to benefit the hydrocarbon sector that contributed to the growth” (79). Alongside the economic growth, the country has also experienced a great deal of social change. It would be prudent to also explore the said social changes over the last few decades.