Jordan should energize its reform process.

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace through the Carnegie Middle East Center published a report in July 2007 titled: "Rethinking Economic Reform in Jordan." According to the report, Jordan has a long history of reform beginning with a severe economic crisis in 1989. The idea at the time was to move the economy from state dominated institutions to one that was "private export led."

The reform process failed because it was, "slow, selective, and uncoordinated."

Jordan did succeed in stabilizing its economy, says Carnegie. Remittances from abroad, particularly the United States, helped with the stabilization, but only served to postpone reforms.

Now, major political and social realities urgently need to be addressed. "Failure to address these challenges may pose a real threat to social and political stability in the country, especially given the political frustration linked to unresolved problems in the region such as the Arab-Israeli conflict and the war in Iraq."

The report concludes that there is still time for Jordan to act before the situation becomes dire--and expensive. Progress in governance is at the heart of what needs to be done. Specifically, the country's institutions require strengthening with public sector performance and accountability top priorities.

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