The Road Not Traveled assesses the contribution of investment in education to economic growth, better income distribution and poverty reduction in the MENA region. It explores the possible explanatory variables for the weak link between the accumulation of human capital and economic outcomes, arguing that this weakness is due to two factors: weak incentives and public accountability in education; weak and distorted domestic labor markets and inappropriate migration policies. On the basis of comparative analysis of 14 MENA countries, the book offers a new approach to education reform for the region, which may also be applicable to other developing countries.