Jobs Undone (Arabic Edition): Reshaping the Role of Governments toward Markets and Workers in the Middle East and North Africa

Governments in the MENA region need to reshape their relationships with markets, workers, and women to create more and better jobs, combining bold reforms with gradual ones and using data to create a new social contract.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 138 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: World Bank Publications

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces a critical need for a new era of market contestability to create more and better job opportunities. Governments in the region must fundamentally reevaluate their relationships with markets, workers, and women, combining bold reforms with gradual ones and utilizing data-driven insights to forge a new social contract with the people of the region.

Market contestability is essential for driving economic growth and creating job opportunities in the MENA region. Governments must prioritize policies that promote competition, innovation, and investment, while also ensuring that markets are fair and accessible to all participants. This includes measures to reduce regulatory barriers, promote entrepreneurship, and invest in infrastructure and education.

One key area for reform is the relationship between governments and markets. Governments must shift from a paternalistic approach to market regulation to one that is more supportive of private enterprise and entrepreneurship. This can involve reducing government interference in the economy, promoting competition, and enacting policies that encourage investment and innovation.

At the same time, governments must prioritize the well-being of workers and ensure that they are protected from exploitation and discrimination. This includes implementing labor laws that provide fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to social protection programs. Governments must also address the issue of gender inequality in the workplace, which remains a significant barrier to economic growth and development.

Women play a critical role in the MENA region's economy, and their participation in the workforce must be promoted and supported. Governments must enact policies that promote gender equality, such as equal pay for equal work, access to education and training programs, and protection against gender-based violence.

Data-driven insights can also play a crucial role in shaping market contestability and creating more job opportunities. Governments must invest in data collection and analysis to better understand the needs of the economy and the challenges faced by workers and entrepreneurs. This can involve developing new policies and programs that are tailored to specific sectors and regions, and using data to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies.

In conclusion, the MENA region faces a critical need for a new era of market contestability to create more and better job opportunities. Governments must prioritize policies that promote competition, innovation, and investment, while also ensuring that markets are fair and accessible to all participants. This includes measures to reduce regulatory barriers, promote entrepreneurship, and invest in infrastructure and education. At the same time, governments must prioritize the well-being of workers and ensure that they are protected from exploitation and discrimination. Data-driven insights can also play a crucial role in shaping market contestability and creating more job opportunities. By implementing these reforms, the MENA region can unlock its full economic potential and create a more prosperous future for its people.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 279 x 216 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781464818639