Assessing the Regional Socio-Economic Disparities, Evidence from Jordan

Abstract

Objectives: Regional disparity in development among regions in developing countries is a common issue. Despite being a small, emerging economy, Jordan suffers from this problem. This study aims to identify and explore regional disparities in Jordan between 2010 and 2018 by integrating social and economic factors. Methods: A mixed-methods approach combining statistical analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques was employed to uncover the economic and social disparities in Jordan, and classify the governorates accordingly. This study presents the results of the Lorenz curve and the site quotient and shows the direct interactions between social disparities on economic disparities in Jordan. Results: The results indicated significant differences between the twelve governorates in Jordan. The capital city, Amman, possesses the highest share of social and economic factors in Jordan and is the only governorate with the highest economic growth. The second and third-ranking governorates in terms of ratios are Irbid and Zarqa. Conclusions: The study recommends implementing balanced and obligatory regional development plans, utilizing an integrated team of experts, decision-makers, investors, and local representatives. Emphasizing the importance of decentralization and empowering local councils in the governorates is crucial.