, Columnist
Saudi Arabia’s Great Run Seems Headed for Trouble
Falling oil revenue, a restive young population and climate change will make a volatile mix.
Surface deep.
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On the surface, Saudi Arabia and its ruling family — an absolute monarchy flush with oil wealth — look secure in their power. Despite oil price fluctuations, income per person has been more or less constant for many years now:
In purchasing power parity terms, Saudi Arabia is a rich country — only slightly behind the U.S. in living standards. Meanwhile, the country’s leadership is feeling confident and powerful enough to prosecute a war in Yemen and kill dissident journalists.