ustaining Gains in Poverty Reduction and Human Development in the Middle East and North Africa reviews the experience of the region with poverty and human development since the mid–1980s. The book finds evidence of stagnation in the rate of poverty reduction during this period, combined with substantial improvement in such non-income dimensions of poverty as health and education indicators. The first trend is a consequence of the stagnation of the region’s economies during the period examined, while the second is likely due to several factors, including improvement in the delivery of public health and education services.
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ailure to reduce poverty systematically since the mid-1980s highlights the importance of getting onto a higher growth track. On the other hand, the improvement in non-income dimensions of poverty suggests that—even in the absence of income growth—the health and education aspects of the living standards of the poor can be enhanced through appropriate attention to public service delivery. Raising the average growth rate will require maintaining sound macroeconomic management and accelerating structural changes to make the region’s economies more open and business-friendly. Sustaining gains in human development will require tackling new challenges. In education, the focus must now shift from quantity to quality. In health, attention must continue to be paid to the needs of the poor and to the new diseases arising from changing demographics and shifts in diets and other lifestyle choices. In social protection, more emphasis must be placed on efficiency and insurance objectives than has been the case in the region.
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his book will be of great interest to those working with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa in the areas of economic policy, poverty reduction strategies, education reform and management, public health, and social development.
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ISBN 0-8213-6527-4