Exports to improve labor markets in the Middle East and North Africa

MENA development report

Format:

Corporate Author:

World Bank

Author:

Gladys Lopez-Acevedo (editor), Raymond Robertson (editor)

Publisher:

World Bank

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), trade liberalisation measures have coincided with stable economic growth, and GDP per capita growth has surpassed that of other developing regions. However, MENA's labour-market outcomes - such as average wage levels, informality rate, and female labour force participation - continue to underperform. Why has rising trade failed to produce better labour market outcomes in low- and middle-income countries in the region? Exports to Improve Labor Markets in the Middle East and North Africa focuses on the impact of trade policy on trade-flows and their relationship with local labour market outcomes in three low- and middle-income countries - the Arab Republic of Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. Given their idiosyncratic labour markets, export diversification, and trade policy history, these three countries other important lessons for economic development in the region. Policy makers and stakeholders can use these findings to design policies to improve the chances that higher trade flows will deliver better labour market outcomes and ensure that the benefits are more equally shared