Growth is key to democracy

For Egypt to have a democratic future after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak it needs above all economic growth, the left-liberal daily Der Standard writes: "The millions of people who took to the streets in recent weeks didn't just want free elections and a share in political decisions. They want more jobs, a higher income and more social security. ... Even if the new government does everything right the structural problems remain unresolved. Everywhere in the Arab world productivity is lower than the wage level. Apart from oil and gas there is no export industry that could compete with the highly efficient Asian suppliers. ... The Europeans, the most important trade partners, can only help to a certain point here. Still it would be good if they opened their markets to the new democracies in North Africa and offered their expertise for reforms. ... But these states must find the path that leads to more growth for themselves. If they don't the hopes for a democratic future will disappear."

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