The past ten years for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region countries have registered an extreme deterioration in at least one measure of social and economic welfare: earnings inequality, unemployment, and poverty.

Preface Some Introductory Observations on Poverty and Earnings Inequality in the Arab World, by Elias Tuma Measurement of Inequality: Motivation and Survey, by Sourushe Zandvakili Unraveling the Paradox in Egypt's Trends in Income Inequality and Poverty, by Ayman Kandeel and Jeffrey B. Nugent Trade Reform and the Poor in Morocco: A Rural-Urban General Equilibrium Analysis of Reduced Protection, by Hans Lofgren Earning Profiles of Women Workers and Education in the Middle East, by E. Mine Cinar Fiscal Policy and Social Welfare in Selected MENA Countries, by Muhammad Q. Islam Does Structural Adjustment Spell Relief from Unemployment? Comparison of Four IMF Success Stories in the Middle East and North Africa by Karen Pfeifer Earnings, Education, Experience and Gender: Kuwaiti Evidence by Salim Chishti and Badria Khalaf What Accounts for Earnings Inequality in Jordan and How Can Labor Policies Help Reduce Poverty? by Zafiris Tzannatos Unemployment, Low Wages, and Income Inequality: The Triangle of Poverty in the Middle East and North Africa by Berch Berberoglu Ideology, Economic Restructuring and Women's Work in Iran (1976-1996) by Fatemeh E. Moghadem Selected Bibliography Index