Human Development in the Middle East and North Africa

Djavad Salehi-Isfahani

No HDRP-2010-26, Human Development Research Papers (2009 to present) from Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Abstract: Middle East and North African countries (MENA) have achieved much to be proud of in human development. Falling child mortality and fertility have transformed family structures in most MENA countries. Despite important advances in health, education, and income, there are certain aspects human development in which MENA countries have not progressed as far. There are inequalities in human development regionally, within each country and for specific demographic groups, most importantly for youth and women. In this paper I review the record of human development in the MENA region to highlight areas in which the region has been more successful, as well those in which human development has lagged in absolute terms or relative to economic growth. I draw attention to certain important characteristics of the region that distinguish it from other developing regions, in particular the presence of oil income and delayed demographic transition.

Keywords: Human development; Middle East and North Africa; Youth. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 J16 J21 J24 N35 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 57 pages
Date: 2010-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ara, nep-dev, nep-hap and nep-hrm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

Published as background research for the 2010 Human Development Report.

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hdr:papers:hdrp-2010-26

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