Introducing social protection in the Middle East and North Africa: Prospects for a new social contract?

摘要: The introductory article of this special issue looks at the genesis, characteristics and challenges social protection schemes in Middle East North Africa (MENA). It argues that policies MENA should be seen as a key ingredient contract governments offered to their citizens after independence. To compensate for lack political participation accountability, free public health education systems, generous food, energy water subsidies, insurance assistance mass public‐sector employment were established. This was possible because countries benefitted from substantial windfall profits (from export oil, gas minerals; Suez Canal user fees), well income remittances migrant workers politically motivated aid. decline some these sources population growth has led focus more closely spending on strategically important groups: typically, urban upper middle class. As result, systems currently suffer severe weaknesses terms fairness, efficiency sustainability. Although still spend very considerable share gross domestic product schemes, have only limited effects reduction poverty, vulnerability inequality – even exhibit perverse “bottom‐up” redistributive outcomes. articles comprise selectively spotlight number opportunities development sustainable countries.