The Middle East and North Africa (MENA)region has made steady progress in terms of the WorldBank's twin goals of eliminating extreme poverty andboosting shared prosperity. During the 2000s, the percentageof people living on less than $1.25 a day declined in allregional economies, except Yemen, and in 2010 was low onaverage. The incomes of the bottom 40 percent have beengrowing at higher rates than average incomes in almost allMENA countries. In fact, in terms of the income growth amongthe bottom 40 percent, the MENA region has done better thanmost other regions, except Latin America and the Caribbean.Income inequality has not worsened and has been low byinternational standards. Two things must be done to boostreal shared prosperity in the MENA. First, leveling theplaying field is a priority because everyone must have afair opportunity for success. Regulations should not favorthe privileged. Second, citizens should hold the stateaccountable, rather than the other way around. By collectinginformation and sharing it with the public, citizens will beempowered to act and improve chances of achieving realshared prosperity in the MENA.
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