The structural economic, social, and institutional distortions led for Syria to relative decrease in GDP per capita and Human Development Index comparing to a number of Arab countries in addition to Turkey and Malaysia. This has reflected in a frustration among Syrians and particularly among youth.  

A decrease in oil exports and an increase of non-oil exports accompanied with a huge increase in imports have led to a surge in trade balance deficit, whereas the services balance had a surplus due to the flourishing tourism sector.  

A relatively low unemployment rate (8%) hiding a dramatic decrease in labor force participation rates as the Syrian economy created only 400 thousand job opportunities during the last decade that reduced LFP rate from 47% in 2001 to 39% in 2010 which reflected the fact that economic growth in Syria ...