Middle East should increase social spending in light of COVID-19 challenges: IMF

Middle East should increase social spending in light of COVID-19 challenges: IMF

Although Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries have made significant strides regarding social spending that covers health care, employment and education, they are still facing immense challenges relating to these issues, especially amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the International Monetary Fund said in a new report published on Tuesday.

The report, titled "Social Spending for Inclusive Growth in the Middle East and Central Asia,“ found that the region's countries still lag behind their global peers in socioeconomic outcomes and in their levels of public social spending.

Moreover, the report showed that a 10 percent increase in social spending per capita could close 20-65 percent of the human development index (HDI) gap between countries in the region and their global counterparts, which reflects how public spending on education, health,