ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL2.GPID/2024/Policy brief.8
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Policy briefs
Cluster: Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development
Focus Area: Financing for development, Governance & enabling environment, Inclusive development, Macroeconomics, Population dynamics & migration, Statistics
Initiatives: Taxation and domestic public resource mobilization , Reducing inequalities, Monitoring money-metric poverty
SDGs: Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
Keywords: Arab countries, Employment creation, Governance, Government policy, Households, Middle-income countries, Poverty, Recommendations, Recovery, Statistical data, Tax reform, Wealth
Unequal trends in wealth accumulation in the Arab region
December 2024
Over the past two decades, household wealth holdings in the Arab region have risen faster than the global average, but wealth gaps between those living in poverty and the rich have also grown. Since the uprisings of 2011, the trends in the region have furthered wealth inequality. Low-income countries (LICs) in the Arab region, some of which are affected by recurring conflict and other natural and man-made crises, are increasingly falling behind wealthier countries in the region and worldwide in household wealth holdings. Wealth inequality surged among LICs, while it increased at a more moderate rate among middle-income countries and experienced a decline among high-income countries. Looking forward, the top regional priority on the path to poverty and inequality alleviation is the implementation of strategies that will enable economic recovery and inclusive growth, especially in LICs and in conflict-affected countries. This calls for ushering in lasting peace, implementing reforms for economic and political stability, and strengthening governance.
Related content
Financing for development
, Governance & enabling environment
, Inclusive development
, Macroeconomics
, Population dynamics & migration
, Statistics
,
Over the past two decades, household wealth holdings in the Arab region have risen faster than the global average, but wealth gaps between those living in poverty and the rich have also grown. Since the uprisings of 2011, the trends in the region have furthered wealth inequality. Low-income countries (LICs) in the Arab region, some of which are affected by recurring conflict and other natural and man-made crises, are increasingly falling behind wealthier countries in the region and worldwide in household wealth holdings. Wealth inequality surged among LICs, while it increased at a more moderate rate among middle-income countries and experienced a decline among high-income countries. Looking forward, the top regional priority on the path to poverty and inequality alleviation is the implementation of strategies that will enable economic recovery and inclusive growth, especially in LICs and in conflict-affected countries. This calls for ushering in lasting peace, implementing reforms for economic and political stability, and strengthening governance.
