Marketing and Economic Development: the Saudi Arabian Experience

Abstract

This paper argues that (a) marketing is indeed a catalyst of economic development in developing countries; (b) developing countries, in general, exhibit unique marketing, economic, and cultural characteristics that are different from those experienced in more developed Western countries; and (c) even though marketing plays an important role in the economic development of developing nations, modern marketing technology developed in the West and transferred to developing countries should be adapted and tailored to fit and match the specific needs of these developing countries. The case of the Saudi Arabian experience is used to illustrate the latter two themes.