Morocco's Economic Progress: Significant Gains in Global Inequality Rankings Amid Persistent Challenges

Morocco has achieved a remarkable improvement in its global inequality standings, advancing 30 positions to secure the 73rd spot among 164 nations in the 2024 Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index, according to a joint report by Oxfam and Development Finance International (DFI).

The North African nation's performance across key metrics reveals a mixed picture of progress and ongoing challenges. The country achieved its strongest showing in taxation policies, ranking 21st globally, while securing the 90th position in public service expenditure and 97th in workers' rights.

This advancement places Morocco alongside other rapidly improving nations such as Malaysia and Paraguay, which gained 26 positions in the rankings. The assessment criteria focused on three primary areas: government spending on public services, taxation policies, and labor rights.

In the global context, Nordic excellence continues with Norway leading the index, followed by Canada and Australia. Conversely, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe occupied the lowest positions. Within the Middle East and North Africa region, Israel emerged at the top, followed by Jordan, while Bahrain ranked last.

Despite these improvements, Morocco continues to face significant wealth distribution challenges. A 2019 Oxfam report highlighted substantial wealth concentration among the country's top 1%, positioning Morocco as the region's most unequal economy in North Africa.

The country's rural areas have witnessed substantial progress in poverty reduction, with rates declining dramatically from 73.4% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2022. However, this progress occurs against a backdrop of broader global concerns about development funding.

The report raises alarming concerns about nations receiving World Bank and International Monetary Fund loans. Approximately 94% of these countries have reduced crucial investments in education, health, and social protection over the past two years. This figure rises to 95% among the world's poorest nations.

Kate Donald, Head of Oxfam International's Washington DC office, emphasized the severity of these cuts, stating they are "not just disappointing; they're dangerous and fundamentally anti-development."

The report concludes with recommendations for enhancing labor market policies, emphasizing the importance of adopting International Labor Organization standards and implementing comprehensive anti-discrimination laws to ensure wage equality.