Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T08:46:33.980Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Family life and the demographic transition in MENA countries: implications for social policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2022

Neil Gilbert Open the ORCID record for Neil Gilbert [Opens in a new window]  and
Anis Ben Brik
Neil Gilbert*
Affiliation:
School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
Anis Ben Brik
Affiliation:
College of Public Policy, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
*
Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper reviews recent demographic and familial changes in the Middle East and North African countries (MENA), which parallel the developments associated with the second demographic transition that has transformed population profiles and family life in the more developed OECD countries. The emerging needs for family-oriented policies are analysed in relation to these changes. And the current levels of social protection in the MENA region are assessed along with the recent measures initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper offers evidence of the demographic transition underway in the region, as many countries are experiencing declining fertility rates combined with an increase in life expectancy, which creates a rising old age dependency ratio. This in turn adds an additional burden of elderly dependents on the working age population and on the state’s capacity to care for elderly dependents, which generates an increasing need to expand social protection in the MENA region.

Keywords

Demographic transitionfertilitywomenelderlyMENA
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , March 2022 , pp. 15 - 35
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Social Policy Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abyad, A. (2001). Health care for older persons: A country profile-Lebanon. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 49(10), 1366–1370. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.49268.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Afary, J. (2009). Sexual politics in modern Iran. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Al-Ghanim, K. (2021). The hierarchy of authority based on kinship, age, and gender in the extended family in the Arab Gulf States. International Journal of the Jurisprudence of the Family, 3(329–40).Google Scholar
Amini, R., Chee, K. H., Keya, S., & Ingman, S. R. (2021). Elder care in Iran: A case with a unique demographic profile. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 33(6), 611–625. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2020.1722896CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arab Monetary Fund and World Bank Group. (2017). Arab Pension Systems: Trends, challenges and options for reforms. Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
Bakass, F., & Ferrand, M., trans. Depledge, R.. (2013). Sexual debut in Rabat: New “arrangements” between the sexes. Population, 68(1), 37–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beaujot, R., & Zenaida, R. (2008). Family change and implications for family solidarity and social cohesion. Canadian Studies in Population, 35(1), 73–101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bel-Air, F. (2016). Youth and family policies in Arab countries and Turkey: The political stakes of demography. (Power2Youth Working paper no. 13) http://www.power2youth.eu/system/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMTYvMDYvMjcvMTNfMjRfMjNfNTY1X3AyeV8xMy5wZGYiXV0/p2y_13.pdfGoogle Scholar
Billari, F., & Kohler, H.-P. (2010). Patterns of low and lowest-low fertility in Europe. Population Studies A Journal of Demography, 58(2), 161–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bloch, C., Bilo, C., Helmy, I., Osorio, R. G., & Soares, F. V. (2019). Fiscal space for child-sensitive social protection in the MENA region (36). International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG).Google Scholar
Brinton, C., & Oh, E. (2019). Babies, work, or both? Highly educated women’s employment and fertility in East Asia. American Journal of Sociology, 125(1), 105–140. https://doi.org/10.1086/704369CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cherlin, A. (2004). The deinstitutionalization of American marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family, 66(4), 848–861.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daly, M., & Ferragina, E. (2018). Family policy in high-income countries: Five decades of development. Journal of European Social Policy, 28(3), 255–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daly, M., Pfau-Effinger, B., Gilbert, N. and Besharov, D. eds. (Forthcoming). The international handbook of family policy: A life course perspective. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Da Roit, B., & Le Bihan, B. (2019). Cash for long‐term care: Policy debates, visions, and designs on the move. Social Policy & Administration, 53(4), 519–536.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Del Boca, D., & Wetzels, C. (Eds.) (2007). Social policies, labour markets and motherhood. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
DIFI (2019). A framework for family-sensitive social protection. Doha International Family Institute. https://www.difi.org.qa/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/FSSP-ENGLISH-TEXT-WEB.pdfGoogle Scholar
Dykstra, P., & Hagestad, G.(2016). How demographic patterns and social policies shape interdependence among lives in the family realm. Population Horizons, 13(2), 12–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eberstadt, N., & Shah, A. (2011). Fertility decline in the Muslim World: A veritable sea-change, still curiously unnoticed. (The American Enterprise Institute Working Paper Series on Development Policy, No. 7).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Economist (2017). The new Arab cosmopolitans, November 4th, 47–48.Google Scholar
ESCWA (2018). Rethinking Fiscal Policy for the Arab Region (E/ESCWA/EDID/2017/4). Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). https://www.unescwa.org/sites/default/files/pubs/pdf/rethinking-fiscal-policy-arab-region-english_1.pdfGoogle Scholar
Espenshade, T., Guzman, J., & Westoff, C. (2003). The surprising global variation in replacement fertility. Population Research and Policy Review, 22, 575–583.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fidesz (2019). All you need to know about the latest in Hungray’s pro-family policy. https://fideszeu.hu/en/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-latest-in-hungarys-pro-family-policy/Google Scholar
Gilbert, N. (2017) Never enough: Capitalism and the progressive spirit. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Gilbert, N., & Ben Brick, A. (2020). Family sensitive policy: Broadening the conceptual lens for evaluating social protection. Society, 57, 637–645CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gulf Cooperation Council, Statistical Center (2018). Total fertility rate in Qatar: 2010–2015. http://dp.gccstat.org/en/DataSearchGoogle Scholar
Hoodfar, H. (1997). Between marriage and the market: Intimate politics and survival in Cairo. Berkeley, CA: University of California. https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520918863CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hussein, S., & Ismail, M. (2017). Ageing and elderly care in the Arab region: Policy challenges and opportunities. Ageing International, 42(3), 274–289. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-016-9244-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
International Labour Organization. (2012), Rethinking economic growth: Towards productive and inclusive Arab societies. Beirut: International Labour Organization.Google Scholar
International Social Security Association. (2017) Megatrends and social security: Family and gender. Geneva: ISSA.Google Scholar
Jawad, R. (2014). Social protection in the Arab region: Emerging trends and recommendations for future social policy. (The Arah Human Development Report Research Paper Series). United Nation Development Programme.Google Scholar
Jewel, A., Mansour, M., Mitra, P., & Sdralevich, C. (2015). Fair taxation in the Middle East and North Africa (IMF Staff Discussion Note). International Monetary Fund. Washington, DC. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/sdn/2015/sdn1516.pdfGoogle Scholar
Kárpáti, J. (2011). The pension systems of Arab countries in the light of socio-economic risks, public. Finance Quarterly, 2(65), 179–192.Google Scholar
Karshenas, M., & Moghadam, V. M. (2001). Female labor force participation and economic adjustment in the MENA region. Research in Middle East Economics, 4, 51–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kronfol, N. Rizk, A., & Sibai, A. (2015) Ageing and intergenerational family ties in Arab countries. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 21(11), 835–843.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Last, J. (2014). What to expect when no one’s expecting: America’s coming demographic disaster. New York: Encounter Books.Google Scholar
Lesthaeghe, R. (2010). The unfolding story of the second demographic transition. Population and Development Review, 36(2), 211–251.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Longman, P. (2006). The return of patriarchy. Foreign Policy, 153, 56–65.Google Scholar
Lundqvist, A., & Ostner, H. (2017). New Social Risk Policies for Germans and Swedish Families. Paper presented at the Conference on Changing Family Arrangements and Social Welfare Benefits: Effects on Work, Marriage, and Cohabitation, Lisbon 31 October 2017.Google Scholar
Mahdavi, P. (2007). Passionate uprisings: Young people, sexuality and politics in post‐revolutionary Iran. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 9(5), 445–457. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691050601170378CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. (2016) Marriage and Divorce in the State of Qatar 2015 (Review and Analysis), September.Google Scholar
Moghadam, V. M. (2013). Women, work and family in the Arab region: Toward economic citizenship (Protecting the Arab Family from Poverty: Employment, Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity). Qatar: Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development.Google Scholar
MSA (2021). The National Strategy for Older Persons in Lebanon 2020–2030. Lebanese Republic Ministry of Social Affairs. https://www.socialaffairs.gov.lb/admin/NewsImages/6432_3.pdfGoogle Scholar
OECD(2011). Doing better for families. Paris: OECD. https://read.oecdilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/doing-better-for-families_9789264098732en#page3Google Scholar
OECD (2020). OECD tax benefit model for Hungary. Paris: OECD. http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/TaxBEN-Hungary-2019.pdfGoogle Scholar
OECD. (2013). Cohabitation rate and prevalence of other forms of partnership. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.Google Scholar
Olmsted, J. C. (2005). Gender aging, and the evolving Arab patriarchal contract. Feminist Economics, 11(2), 53–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Özmete, E., Gurboga, C., & Tamkoc, B. (2016). Country Report: Republic of Turkey. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). https://unece.org/DAM/pau/age/country_rpts/2017/TUR_report.pdfGoogle Scholar
PCBS (2019). A brief on the status of Palestinian people at the end of 2019. Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/post.aspx?lang=en&ItemID=3642Google Scholar
Pew Research Center (2012). The World’s Muslims: Unity and diversity. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.Google Scholar
PRB (2019). 2019 Family planning data sheet. Population Reference Bureau. https://www.prb.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/fp-data-sheet-2019.pdfGoogle Scholar
PSA (2020). Statistical Analysis Labor Force Sample Survey 2020. Planning and Statistics Authority. https://www.psa.gov.qa/en/statistics/Statistical%20Releases/Social/LaborForce/2020/Annual_Bulletin_Labour_force_2020_AE.pdfGoogle Scholar
Puschmann, P., & Matthijs, K. (2015). The demographic transition in the Arab world: The dual role of marriage in family dynamics and population growth. In: Matthijs, K., Neels, K., Timmerman, C., Haers, J., & Mels, S. (Eds.), International population studies, beyond the demographic divide: Population change in Europe, the Middle-East and North Africa (pp. 119–165). Farnham: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Rashad, H. (2015). The tempo and intensity of marriage in the Arab region: Key challenges and their implications. DIFI Family Research and Proceedings, 2015, 2. http://doi.org/10.5339/difi.2015.2Google Scholar
Rashad, H., Osman, M., & Roudi-Fahimi, F. (2005). Marriage in the Arab World. Population Reference Bureau September 2005.Google Scholar
Rahbari, L. (2016a). Sexuality in Iran. Encyclopedia of Family Studies, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119085621.wbefs235Google Scholar
Rahbari, L. (2016b). Premarital dating relationships in Iran. Encyclopedia of Family Studies, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119085621.wbefs234Google Scholar
Rugh, W. A. (1997). The United Arab Emirates: What are the sources of its stability? Middle East Policy, 5(3), 14–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sarangi, N., & Abu-Ismail, K. (2018). Tax reform for equity and fiscal space in middle-income Arab countries. Economic Research Forum (ERF). https://theforum.erf.org.eg/2018/03/01/tax-reformequity-fiscal-space-middle-income-arab-countries/Google Scholar
Al-Shaikhly, S., & Cui, J. (2017, October 17). Education in Iraq. World Education News + Reviews. https://wenr.wes.org/2017/10/education-in-iraqGoogle Scholar
Sibai, A. M., & Yamout, R. (2012). Family-based old-age care in Arab countries: Between tradition and modernity. Population Dynamics in Muslim Countries, 63–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27881-5_5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spierings, N., & Smits, J. (2007). Women’s labour market participation in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Syria & Tunisia: A three-level analysis. Paper prepared for the IZA-World Bank Conference on Employment and Development, June 8th/9th, 2007, Bonn. https://conference.iza.org/conference_files/worldb2007/spierings_n3399.pdfGoogle Scholar
Tajvar, M., Arab, M., & Montazeri, A. (2008). Determinants of health-related quality of life in elderly in Tehran, Iran. BMC Public Health, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-8-323CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tabutin, D., Schoumaker, B., Rogers, G., Mandelbaum, J., & Dutreuilh, C. (2005). The demography of the Arab World and the Middle East from the 1950s to the 2000s. A survey of changes and a statistical assessment. Population (English Edition, 2002-), 60(5/6), 505. https://doi.org/10.2307/4148186Google Scholar
UNDP. (2021). Social protection systems and the response to COVID-19 in the Arab region in the Arab states. United Nations Development Programme. https://www.arabstates.undp.org/content/rbas/en/home/library/crisis-response0/social-protection-systems-and-the-response-to-covid-19-in-the-ar.htmlGoogle Scholar
UNDESA (2017). Turkey’s input on the two cluster issues to be discussed at the viii session of the oewg on ageing. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. https://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/documents/eighth/Inputs%20Member%20States/Turkey.pdfGoogle Scholar
UNESCWA. (2020). Regional emergency response to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. https://www.unescwa.org/sites/default/files/pubs/pdf/regional-emergency-response-mitigate-impact-covid-19-english.pdfGoogle Scholar
UNIGME (2021). Child and Adolescent Mortality Estimates. UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. https://childmortality.orgGoogle Scholar
United Nations Development Programme (2005). Towards the Rise of Women in the Arab World. Annex II Arab Human Development Reports (AHDR).Google Scholar
United Nations (2013a). World population prospects: The 2012 revision. New York: U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2013. Vol. 1, Comprehensive Tables.Google Scholar
United Nations (2013b ). A review of literature on the changing role of the family in care provision in Arab countries. https://www.unescwa.org/publications/review-literature-changing-role-family-careprovision-arab-countriesGoogle Scholar
United Nations (2021). Living arrangements of older persons. United Nations Population Division. https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/data/living-arrangements-older-personsGoogle Scholar
United Nations (2017). Household size and composition around the world 2017. United Nations Database of Household Size and Composition 2017. https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/ageing/household_size_and_composition_around_the_world_2017_data_booklet.pdfGoogle Scholar
Van de Kaa, D. (2002). The idea of a second demographic transition in industrialized countries. Paper presented at the Sixth Welfare Policy Seminar of the National Institute of Population and Social Security, Tokyo, Japan, 29 January 2002.Google Scholar
WEF (2021). Global gender gap report 2021 (March). World Economic Forum. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2021.pdfGoogle Scholar
World Bank (2017). Data extract world development indicators updated 2017. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.TFRT.INGoogle Scholar
World Bank (2021). Data extract Life expectancy, Middle East & North Africa. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=ZQGoogle Scholar