Oil Price Movements and GDP Growth in GCC Countries: Is the Relationship Symmetric‪?‬

Abstract This paper examines whether oil price movements in one group of oil-exporting countries, namely those of the Gulf Cooperation Council, produce asymmetric effects on GDP growth as is commonly found with oil-importing countries. The paper employs a SUR model regressing annual growth rates against positive and negative changes in oil prices. Some evidence on the presence of asymmetries surfaces but is not overwhelming and is country specific.