Policy Briefs
Regional Insights into Social Insurance: Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia
No.
PB 120
Publisher
ERF
Date
November, 2023
In a nutshell:
- The social contracts in Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia have evolved over time, influenced by political regimes, economic policies, and societal aspirations. However, recent challenges like political instability, economic disparities, and social unrest have raised concerns about the sustainability of these social contracts.
- Strengthening contributory social insurance schemes can serve as a potential solution for strengthening the social contract. And in the face of economic, demographic, and fiscal challenges, the importance of social insurance becomes even more critical and needed.
- There is a significant gap between the legal mandates for social insurance coverage in the three countries and the actual participation rates.
- Despite legal requirements for extensive coverage and legislative reform in recent years, actual coverage remains considerably lower than expected.
- These countries share common issues like inequality, corruption, and limited political freedoms, and their social contracts exhibit deficiencies that demand robust solutions and a multifaceted approach to tackle this issue.
- Policy approaches and collaborative research are essential avenues for addressing the challenges within the social contract in Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia which can offer potential solutions to bridge the gaps and enhance social insurance coverage.
Research Fellows
Zina S. Nimeh
Associate Professor of Public Policy, United Nations...
Speakers
Tamara A. Kool
Researcher, Verwey-Jonker Instituut
Authors
Guido Heins
Researcher, United Nations University-MERIT