Kuwait is a major oil exporting country, and it’s economy is highly dependent on the oil sector.

Here is a piece of interesting statistic that I’d like to share. Below is a list of the 10 largest industrial and service sectors in Kuwait, and their contribution to GDP. Oil is the largest sector, bigger than all the 9 other top 10 sectors combined

While the economy is booming now due to high oil price, this situation should not be taken for granted. If oil price plummets, the economy will face big problems. It should diversity its economy away from oil to better react to oil price fluctuations

GDP contribution from each sector
2005 figures, in USD millions

1. Energy, Mining and Quarrying (24)
2. Public Administration, Sanitary and Personal Services (8)
3. Business Services (3)
4. Real Estate & Dwelling (2)
5. Petroleum Refineries (2)
6. Financial Institutions (2)
7. Retail Trade (2)
8. Wholesale Trade (1)
9. Communications (1)
10. Transportation & Storage (1)

The data can be obtained from the Central Bank for free, or international data vendors, e.g. Global Insight, at a cost

Central Bank of Kuwait

Ministry of Planning

The Pentagon has released a report on the mental health of American soldiers in Iraq. The results are worrying. My read on its findings

Factors affecting soldiers‘ mental health, pretty logical, no surprise
1. Soldiers are more likely to have mental problems the longer they stay in Iraq
2. If they are actually engaged in combat, they get significantly higher stress levels
3. Marines and soldiers suffer equally (dismissing claims by many that marines are better, tougher fighters)

Soldiers’ attitude towards treating non-combatants, reflecting their status of mental health. Alarming!
1. 41% of soldiers and 44% of marines believed that torture should be permitted if it would save the life of a fellow soldier or marine
2. 36% of soldiers and 39% of marines said torture should be allowed to extract important information about Iraqi insurgents
3. 47% of soldiers and 38% of marines felt that non-combatants should be treated with dignity and respect, as required by the Geneva Conventions

While acknowledging the problems, remedial measures listed in the report are largely tactical short-term fixes. Not sure whether they’ll yield any significant effect

For more information,
View the Economist’s coverage

View the full report at the US Army website