Poverty in modern Saudi society causes, consequences, and government policies

Abstract

This thesis explores the nature of poverty in modern Saudi society in relation to socio-economic change. The aim of this research is to establish a theoretical framework regarding the main causes and consequences of poverty, the effectiveness of policies in reducing poverty and the design of effective policies in Saudi society. The research is based on analyses of data from diverse sources, including books, government documents, non-governmental publications, journal articles, annual reports, newspapers and other research resources. The Saudi Ministry of Social Affairs is reluctant to issue information, so relatively little data on poverty in Saudi society is available. The analysis reveals that poverty in modem Saudi society has various manifestations, including lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods; malnutrition; ill-health, limited or lack of access to education and other basic services, increased morbidity and mortality from illness; homelessness and inadequate housing, unsafe environments and social discrimination and exclusion. Debate on poverty in Saudi society is rare, therefore this research provides a valuable basis for further studies, that may make use of a diverse range of new sources of information and data on poverty in Saudi society, that are not yet available.