Missed by the Boom, Hurt by the Bust: Making Markets Work for Young People in the Middle East
13 May 2009, Navtej Dhillon, Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Paul Dyer, Tarik Yousef, Amina Fahmy, Mary Kraetsch
In "Missed by the Boom, Hurt by the Bust: Making Markets Work for Young People in the Middle East," the Middle East Youth Initiative cautions that a new jobs crisis may damage future prospects for the region's young people. For Middle Eastern economies, the global downturn coincides with a historically high share of 15- to 29-year-olds in the total population. This report shows that, even during the “boom” years of 2002 to 2008, young people in the Middle East did not benefit from high quality education and struggled to find decent jobs. Now, with labor markets already under pressure to generate employment for record numbers of graduates, the region faces a new set of challenges due to the global downturn and its affects on oil prices, exports, remittances, and foreign investment. For Middle Eastern economies to emerge stronger, policies forged during the downturn must be consistent with long-term goals of cultivating a skilled workforce, expanding the role of the private sector, and reducing the appeal of government employment.
To access the full report, please click on the "download" link at the top of the page. Individual sections of the report are available for download below:
Introduction (195 KB)
The Boom Times: How Did the Young Fare? (1.16 MB)
Stalled Transitions: How Institutions Are Failing Young People (697 KB)
New Economic Crisis, New Risks for Young People (444 KB)
A New Policy Agenda (675 KB)
Emerging Stronger After the Downturn: The Imperative of Regional Cooperation (204 KB)
Please direct inquiries to:
Samantha Constant
Associate Director
Wolfensohn Center for Development
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036-2103
Tel. 202-797-2975
Fax. 202-797-2972
Email. sconstant@brookings.edu
Paul Dyer
Research Associate
Dubai School of Government
PO BOX 72229
Tel. +971 4 329 3290
Fax. +971 4 329 3291
Email. paul.dyer@dsg.ae
Diana Greenwald
Research Assistant
Wolfensohn Center for Development
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036-2103
Tel. 202-238-3515
Fax. 202-797-2972
Email. dgreenwald@brookings.edu
