Jordan performs well in ‘Inequality in the World’ report

AMMAN — The Jordan Strategy Forum (JSF) has issued a paper titled "Commitment indicator to reducing inequality: Encouraging results for 2022”, which highlights state of inequality in the world and Jordan's commitment to its reduction.

Based on the "Inequality in the World" report issued by the World Inequality Lab, the JSF said that the richest 10 per cent of people in the world hold 52 per cent of global income, while the poorest 50 per cent have only 8 per cent, according to a JSF statement.

The forum also said that the richest 10 per cent of the world's population own 76 per cent of the global wealth, while the poorest half has a 2 per cent share of global wealth.

Regarding the Kingdom's performance on inequality, the JSF referred to Jordan's results in the Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index 2022, issued by Oxfam in partnership with the International Development Association.

According to the JSF, the index classifies the performance of 161 governments on taking necessary procedures to reduce inequality through three main pillars: Public services (health, education and social protection), taxation and labour rights.

In this context, the forum said that Jordan's performance in its commitment to reducing inequality has improved significantly, with Jordan ranking 66th out of 158 globally in the overall indicator in 2020 and 54th out of 161 in 2022. 

In addition, Jordan's ranking in the progressive taxation pillar improved from 70th out of 158 in 2020 to 65th out of 161 in 2022. 

In terms of labour rights and wages, Jordan's ranking was 64th out of 158 in 2020 and 36th out of 161 by 2022. With regard to Jordan's performance on the public service pillar, the forum noted that Jordan's performance declined from 80th out of 158 in 2020 to 99th out of 161 in 2022.

In this regard, the forum recommended that all stakeholders work to improve policies on public service expenditure, progressive taxation, labour rights and wages. In addition, the JSF stressed the need to increase effective and efficient spending on education, health and social protections.

In a related context, the forum said that the Economic Modernisation Vision, to be implemented over the next 10 years, includes 8 drivers and 35 modernisation sectors.

According to the forum, the education and health sectors constitute the base for reducing inequality, as the implementation of these sectors' initiatives will be reflected in the reduction of inequality in Jordan.