Economic development and Islamic finance

Zamir Iqbal, Abbas Mirakhor

Over the last three decades, the concepts of Islamic finance and Islamic economics have captured the attention of researchers. The growing market for transactions compatible with Islamic law (Shari-áh) is further evidence of growing interest in this mode of finance. By some estimates, the total volume of Islamic financial assets has grown by 15 to 20 percent a year since 1990 and now exceeds 1.3 trillion. The growth of the Islamic financial sector in 2006-10 period surpassed the growth of conventional financial sector in all segments of the market, ranging from commercial banking, investment.