Unlocking the Employment Potential in the Middle East and North Africa

In no small measure, the economic future of the Middle East and North Africa region will be determined by the fate of its labor markets. The problems to be overcome are enormous; their complexity is daunting, yet the costs of inaction and the benefits of dynamic labor markets underscore the imperative of acting quickly and decisively. This title argues that meeting this employment challenge will require the transformation of the region's societies and economic structures as well as a new development model based on a reinvigorated private sector, greater integration into the world economy, and better management of oil resources. These drivers of future growth and job creation will require, moreover, a foundation of better governance and a new social contract.