A Triple Win: Fiscal and Welfare Benefits of Economic Participation by Syrian Refugees in Jordan

doi:https://doi.org/10.1596/41574

Publication:
A Triple Win: Fiscal and Welfare Benefits of Economic Participation by Syrian Refugees in Jordan

dc.contributor.editor	Hoogeveen, Johannes
dc.contributor.editor	Obi, Chinedu
dc.date.accessioned	2024-05-21T19:21:55Z
dc.date.available	2024-05-21T19:21:55Z
dc.date.issued	2024-06-18
dc.description.abstract	"A Triple Win: Fiscal and Welfare Benefits of Economic Participation by Syrian Refugees in Jordan" is the result of a joint effort by the World Bank and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to explore the welfare of Syrian refugees in Jordan and to review the aid that refugees receive and their participation in the economy. The analysis shows how deprivation among Syrian refugees is elevated, more so for refugees living in host communities. This presents a puzzle because most refugees opt to live outside of the camps, even though they have the option to stay in camps. Why do people voluntarily expose themselves to a higher risk of poverty? The volume finds an answer in the desire of refugees for freedom and autonomy. "A Triple Win" then turns to humanitarian aid that is found important for reducing refugee poverty, but insufficient as poverty levels remain high. After considering the scope for efficiency gains, the conclusion is that at current levels of aid it will not be possible to lift all Syrian refugees out of poverty unless another solution is found. Increasing the financial autonomy of refugees provides the needed solution. Syrian refugees already access Jordan’s labor market, but their access is constrained. Those who work tend to labor in less remunerative jobs, often in the informal sector. Despite this, the incomes earned by refugees exceed aid by a factor of two. The analysis goes on to show that refugee economic participation already reduces the need for aid by US$850 million per year. This reduction could increase if labor market restrictions were eased. The savings that would be generated could then be repurposed. This approach defines the triple win: refugees gain financial autonomy, humanitarian aid is reserved for those most in need, and Jordan receives additional resources to invest in its economic development.	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1596/978-1-4648-2107-3
dc.identifier.isbn	978-1-4648-2107-3
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10986/41574
dc.language.iso	en_US
dc.publisher	Washington, DC: World Bank
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holder	World Bank
dc.rights.uri	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo
dc.subject	SYRIAN REFUGEES
dc.subject	JORDAN
dc.subject	FINANCIAL AUTONOMY
dc.subject	POVERTY
dc.subject	AID
dc.subject	LABOR MARKETS
dc.subject	DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subject	SDG 8
dc.title	A Triple Win	en
dc.title.subtitle	Fiscal and Welfare Benefits of Economic Participation by Syrian Refugees in Jordan	en
dc.type	Book
dspace.entity.type	Publication
okr.crossref.title	A Triple Win: Fiscal and Welfare Benefits of Economic Participation by Syrian Refugees in Jordan (Overview booklet)
okr.date.disclosure	2024-06-18
okr.doctype	Publications & Research
okr.doctype	Publications & Research::Publication
okr.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/10.1596/41574
okr.region.administrative	Middle East and North Africa
okr.region.country	Jordan
okr.topic	Social Protections and Labor::Social Protections & Assistance
okr.topic	Macroeconomics and Economic Growth::Development Economics & Aid Effectiveness