ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors review the major developments in health and education. They present some key building blocks in their argument about the role of real and perceived inequalities in fueling the uprisings. Social inequalities affect educational achievement in the Jordan. The overview of social sectors contributes to a better understanding of the distinct context within which the various subregions of the Middle East have pursued economic and social development. Neoclassical economists point to high rates of return on investments in human capital, while Marxists stress the need for socialist regimes to liberate the productive potential of the masses. Human capital issues are particularly important for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries because, with the obvious exception of oil, the region is relatively poor in natural resources. Progress in health and education was rapid and real, and starting from such low bases, these improvements in basic living conditions were transformative for earlier generations of Middle Easterners.
