Social Protection and the Pandemic in the MENA Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 119 (821) ◽  
pp. 356-361
Author(s):  
Rana Jawad
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Transfer Programs ◽  
Balanced Approach ◽  
Emergency Measures

Nations in the Middle East and North Africa have traditionally seen the primary function of social policy as serving the goal of economic growth. But the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for a more balanced approach to make societies more resilient, with social protection policies that provide citizens with basic security throughout their lives. Beyond cash transfer programs and other emergency measures, governments should recognize the need for universal provision of health care and other essential assistance. Otherwise they risk leaving the Arab Spring’s popular demands for dignity unheeded.

scholarly journals Diaspora Policies, Consular Services and Social Protection for Spanish Citizens Abroad

2020 ◽  
pp. 457-472
Author(s):  
Pau Palop-García
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Civil War ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Economic Hardship ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Policy Strategy ◽  
The Social ◽  
The 1950S

Abstract This chapter outlines the social protection policies that Spain has adopted to target Spanish nationals abroad. First, it describes the diaspora infrastructure and the key engagement policies developed in the last years by Spain. Subsequently, the chapter focuses on five social protection policies: unemployment, health care, pensions, family-related benefits, and economic hardship. The findings reveal that Spain has adopted a diaspora strategy that targets different emigrant groups such as exiles of the Civil War and early Francoism and their descendants, Spaniards that emigrated to other European countries during the 1950s and 1960s, and new emigrants that left the country due to the consequences of the financial crisis of 2008. Findings also show that, although Spain has developed a wide array of services to target its diverse diaspora, it still lacks a comprehensive scheme of social protection abroad. Moreover, the results suggest that Spain has adopted a subsidiary social policy strategy abroad that is triggered when the social protection offered by states of reception is lacking.

scholarly journals Environmental Performance and Economic Growth in Middle East and North Africa Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hichem Dkhili
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
The Impact

Background. Studies on environmental performance/quality and economic growth show inconclusive results. Objective. The aim of the present study is to assess the non-linear relationship between environmental performance and economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 2002–2018. Methods. A sample of fourteen (14) MENA countries was used in the present analysis. However, due to important differences between countries in this region, the whole sample was divided into two sub-samples; nine Middle Eastern countries (MEAS) and five North African countries (NAF). We performed the panel smooth transition regression model as an econometric approach. Discussion. Empirical results indicate a threshold effect in the environmental performance and economic growth relationship. The threshold value differs from one group of countries to another. More specifically, we found that the impact of environmental performance and economic growth is positive and significant only if a certain threshold level has been attained. Until then, the effect remains negative. Conclusions. The findings of the present study are of great importance for policymakers since they determine the optimal level of environmental performance required to act positively on the level of economic growth. MENA countries should seek to improve their environmental performance index in order to grow output. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF HARMONIZING THE INTERESTS OF ECONOMIC SUBJECTS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svitlana Fimyar ◽  
Olga Shilvinska
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Economic Effect ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
The State ◽  
Economic Behavior ◽  
Social Partnership ◽  
The Government ◽  
Social Product

Economic transformations of the country due to the development of market relations lead to appropriate changes in the field of social policy, the development of appropriate mechanisms of social protection, based on the principles of self-regulation and mutual support. The scale of economic growth is largely determined by the level of motivation of the behavior of economic entities both in increasing their own financial results and the general economic effect of creating a social product. In this aspect, the social policy of the state becomes a powerful factor in economic growth, with the greatest effect is given by the use of such forms of incentives that realize the public interests of all economic entities, which are not homogeneous in nature. The implementation of these priorities should be aimed at solving major socio-economic problems in order to prevent conflicts and promote sustainable development at the level of enterprises, regions, the country as a whole, so the problem of harmonizing the interests of all economic entities can be identified as a priority. The urgency of this problem is due to the need to increase the level of social protection of the population, which is achieved through the effective implementation of social policy and improving the mechanisms for its implementation from the standpoint of harmonization of interests of all economic entities. It is proved that to form a low-conflict model in which each entity has a clearly defined mechanism for meeting their own needs through the interests of partners, possibly by expanding the scope of market methods of self-regulation in combination with government leverage to influence economic behavior. To implement a more effective social policy, the government proposed a mechanism for expanding and harmonizing the socio-economic interests of the state, business and employees, which summarizes the result of the synthesis of natural and artificial responsibilities for various actors in social policy and social partnership. The proposed mechanism is able to neutralize the problems associated with low wages in the real sector of the economy, poverty and inefficient use of GDP, ensure the transparency of this process, and create a powerful motivational environment for workers and employers.

scholarly journals State Fragility, Social Contracts and the Role of Social Protection: Perspectives from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 447
Author(s):  
Markus Loewe ◽  
Tina Zintl
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Information Campaign ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
State Fragility ◽  
Social Contracts ◽  
Government Provision ◽  
Two Sides

Social contracts and state fragility represent two sides of one coin. The former concept highlights that governments need to deliver three “Ps”—protection, provision, and political participation—to be acceptable for societies, whereas the latter argues that states can fail due to lack of authority (inhibiting protection), capacity (inhibiting provision), or legitimacy. Defunct social contracts often lead to popular unrest. Using empirical evidence from the Middle East and North Africa, we demonstrate how different notions of state fragility lead to different kinds of grievances and how they can be remedied by measures of social protection. Social protection is always a key element of government provision and hence a cornerstone of all social contracts. It can most easily counteract grievances that were triggered by decreasing provision (e.g., after subsidy reforms in Iran and Morocco) but also partially substitute for deficient protection (e.g., by the Palestinian National Authority, in pre-2011 Yemen) or participation (information campaign accompanying Moroccan subsidy cut; participatory set-ups for cash-for-work programmes in Jordan). It can even help maintain a minimum of state–society relations in states defunct in all three Ps (e.g., Yemen). Hence, social protection can be a powerful instrument to reduce state fragility and mend social contracts. Yet, to be effective, it needs to address grievances in an inclusive, rule-based, and non-discriminatory way. In addition, to gain legitimacy, governments should assume responsibility over social protection instead of outsourcing it to foreign donors.

High-Growth Entrepreneurship in the MENA Region

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-65
Author(s):  
Amir Manzoor
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Young People ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Job Growth ◽  
Employment Needs

The development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is experiencing a crucial stage. How the region addresses the employment needs of its rapidly increasing population of young people will determine whether the MENA region will become one characterized by stable, knowledge-based economies that have dynamic working middle class. Entrepreneurship is considered vital to drive this transition of the region. However, not all types of entrepreneurship can contribute equally to increased economic growth and job creation. For these reasons, entrepreneurship literature shows a renewed focus on high-growth entrepreneurship. Increased high-growth entrepreneurship is expected to not only spur job growth but also act as a significant source of innovation and new investments. This article explores the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the MENA region. The chapter discusses various challenges and provides specific recommendations to boost high-growth entrepreneurship in the MENA region.

scholarly journals The Causality between Capital Formation and Economic Growth in MENA Region

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Mehrara ◽  
Maysam Musai
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Panel Cointegration ◽  
Cointegration Analysis ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Domestic Investment ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Strong Causality

This paper investigates the causal relationship between gross domestic investment (INV) and GDP for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region countries by using panel unit root tests and panel cointegration analysis for the period 1970-2010. The results show a strong causality from economic growth to investment in these countries. Yet, investment does not have any significant effects on GDP in short- and long-run. It means that it is the GDP that drives investment in mentioned countries, not vice versa. So the findings of this paper support the point of view that it is higher economic growth that leads to higher investment. According to the results, decision makings should be employed to achieve sustainable growth through higher productivity and substantially enlarging the economic base diversification in the future

scholarly journals How Brazil and Mexico Diverged on Social Protection in the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 120 (823) ◽  
pp. 57-63
Author(s):  
Nora Lustig ◽  
Mart Trasberg
Keyword(s):  
Economic Impact ◽  
Financial Aid ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Transfer Programs ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Long Term Consequences ◽  
The Government

Mexico and Brazil, both among the region’s hardest hit by COVID-19, took strikingly different steps to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic. Although President Jair Bolsonaro dismissed the need for social distancing measures, the government provided substantial financial aid to citizens though cash transfer programs, avoiding potentially sharp increases in poverty and inequality. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who also displayed a dismissive attitude about the virus, made relatively little effort to protect the poor and unemployed from its effects, despite his pro-poor rhetoric. As a result, the Mexican economy was projected to contract by 9 percent in 2020, while poverty sharply increased. Rising malnutrition and missed schooling may have long-term consequences for inequality.

scholarly journals Access to Social Protection by Immigrants, Emigrants and Resident Nationals in Turkey

2020 ◽  
pp. 389-400
Author(s):  
Mehmet Fatih Aysan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Employment Status ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Social Benefits ◽  
The Social ◽  
Care Family ◽  
Social Security Reforms ◽  
Family Benefits ◽  
Family Allowances

AbstractThis chapter scrutinises the social protection system in contemporary Turkey in order to examine how different groups of individuals access social benefits across five main policy areas—unemployment, health care, family allowances, pensions, and guaranteed minimum resources. The general conditions under which Turkish citizens and foreigners have access to social benefits in Turkey can be summarized as follows: (i) residence and employment status are important determinants of one’s access to social protection in Turkey; (ii) employment status generally determines the access to unemployment benefits, health care, pensions, and family benefits, while residence status is important for all social policy areas except pensions; (iii) a majority of social benefits provided for Turkish citizens are also available for foreign residents through their employment status; (iv) guaranteed income is granted based on residence in Turkey; (v) access to family benefits may vary depending on one’s occupation, residence, and nationality. The Turkish system of social protection is a fragmented one, with divisions based on occupational differences, residence, income level, and citizenship. This fragmented nature coupled with regional and global socio-economic risks (particularly large migration flows) make structural social security reforms inevitable in contemporary Turkey.

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