World Bank: Job Miracles and Democratic Transitions, Tunisia Sends Encouraging Signals
18 June 2012
Read by 1441 persons
The World Bank's chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Caroline Freund, today shared the recent results of a study on the likelihood of success for countries undergoing democratic transition, with positive indicators for Tunisia.
During a seminar organized by the Central Bank of Tunisia, Caroline Freund presented the latest economic update of the MENA region, Enabling Job Miracles, which analyzes the region's recent economic performance with a focus on its biggest political challenge: job creation.
Regarding recent World Bank studies on democratic transitions: successes, progress, and failures, C. Freund showed that, during rapid and sustainable transitions, strengthening economic growth in the medium term tends to facilitate the short-term challenges faced by the country. She states that the study shows strong evidence that gender equality, natural resources, conflicts, military government, and urbanization are factors influencing the likelihood of regime change and the stability of future democracy.
The results of the study also suggest that if the transition in Tunisia is sustainable, this success will have positive consequences for the rest of the country's regions. As Tunisia initiated the revolutionary wave that spread across the region, a successful democratic transition is particularly important in this country because of the example it will set for other countries in the region, added C. Freund.
Speaking of the regional unemployment challenge, Caroline Freund stated: "Combating this, one of the region's sustainable development challenges, is more urgent than ever." She hopes that the regional economic update and its focus on Enabling Job Miracles will serve as advice for policymakers facing the challenge, by sharing global lessons.
(Press release)
Tustex.com
Published June 15, 2012.
Posted online June 18, 2012.
During a seminar organized by the Central Bank of Tunisia, Caroline Freund presented the latest economic update of the MENA region, Enabling Job Miracles, which analyzes the region's recent economic performance with a focus on its biggest political challenge: job creation.
Regarding recent World Bank studies on democratic transitions: successes, progress, and failures, C. Freund showed that, during rapid and sustainable transitions, strengthening economic growth in the medium term tends to facilitate the short-term challenges faced by the country. She states that the study shows strong evidence that gender equality, natural resources, conflicts, military government, and urbanization are factors influencing the likelihood of regime change and the stability of future democracy.
The results of the study also suggest that if the transition in Tunisia is sustainable, this success will have positive consequences for the rest of the country's regions. As Tunisia initiated the revolutionary wave that spread across the region, a successful democratic transition is particularly important in this country because of the example it will set for other countries in the region, added C. Freund.
Speaking of the regional unemployment challenge, Caroline Freund stated: "Combating this, one of the region's sustainable development challenges, is more urgent than ever." She hopes that the regional economic update and its focus on Enabling Job Miracles will serve as advice for policymakers facing the challenge, by sharing global lessons.
(Press release)
Tustex.com
Published June 15, 2012.
Posted online June 18, 2012.
