To illustrate this. If Iraq's economy had not grown at all between 1989 and 2023, and not had the gulf war, it would be at $157 Billion. So, an annual growth rate over the last 30 years of (very conservatively) 1.8% would outperform the current GDP.
Hey, it's better than me just eye balling pre-gulf war GDP trajectory. In any event, we can all agree it's difficult to see how an oil rich country, assuming no sanctions and no US invasion, wouldn't have at least equalled the GDP being lauded in the original article.
To illustrate this. If Iraq's economy had not grown at all between 1989 and 2023, and not had the gulf war, it would be at $157 Billion. So, an annual growth rate over the last 30 years of (very conservatively) 1.8% would outperform the current GDP.
:fidel-salute-big: for doing the math on this one.
It is pretty dodgy math (I am not doing calculus today.) but a quick check makes it seem in the ballpark.
Hey, it's better than me just eye balling pre-gulf war GDP trajectory. In any event, we can all agree it's difficult to see how an oil rich country, assuming no sanctions and no US invasion, wouldn't have at least equalled the GDP being lauded in the original article.