2022-09-24-联合国西亚经济社会委员会-埃及对社会和经济平等的看法_一线希望（英）_9页_856kb

Egyptian Perceptions of Social and Economic Equality: A Glimp of Hope

1. Overview

• Current Perception: 67% of Egyptian respondents believed they experienced positive social and economic equality.
• Future Outlook: 57% expected social and economic equality to increase in the next five years, showing higher optimism compared to the Arab region as a whole.

2. Demographic Differences

• Gender:Men were more optimistic than women.
• Geography: Alexandria was the most positive region (76% perceived positive equality, 62% expecting improvement), while Upper Egypt had the least positive perception (60%, 52% expecting improvement).

3. Top Policy Priorities

• Job Opportunities for Young People (Most Recommended):
  • Financial support for SMEs (43% preference).
  • Private sector job creation incentives, including tax breaks for hiring fresh graduates.
  • Education system reform to align with market demands.
• Increased Wages for Workers:
  • Minimum wage policies, social protection, and health insurance for informal workers.
• Combating Corruption:
  • Ranked third, especially among male respondents.

4. Key Findings on Specific Challenges

• Informal Employment: 67% of working Egyptians were informally employed, leading to wage vulnerability.
• Education-Employment Mismatch: While higher education correlates with higher income, skilled employment growth remains insufficient.
• Economic Inequality Trends: Optimism about the economy has increased from 2013 (7% optimists) to recent years (20% in 2022), though lower-income groups and women were slightly less optimistic.

5. Corruption

• Egypt ranked 117th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, prompting calls to strengthen anti-corruption measures.

6. Conclusion

Egyptians show cautious hope for improving socio-economic equality, with policies focusing on inclusive job creation, wage growth, and governance reform being favoured. While not immediately optimistic, a small majority believes future improvements are possible.