Increase of Wealth in the Arab World

  • Arab Countries
  • 29 October 2021
1

A report issued by the World Bank revealed that wealth has increased in the MENA region in the past two decades, but to a lesser degree than the region's gross domestic product during the same period.

According to the "The Changing Wealth of Nations" report, issued by the Bank, growth rates have been achieved in total global wealth, but this growth came at the expense of future prosperity and the exacerbation of inequalities. The report looks at the wealth of 146 countries in the period 1995-2018, by measuring the economic value of renewable natural capital (such as forests, farmland and ocean resources), non-renewable natural capital (such as minerals and fossil fuels), and human capital (the value of income over a person's lifetime), capital produced (such as buildings and infrastructure), and net foreign assets.

The report stated that "the global wealth inequality is increasing", noting that the share of low-income countries in global wealth did not change much during the period 1995-2018, as it remained at less than 1% despite being home to about 8% of the world's population.

Source (The New Arab Newspaper, Edited)