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Understanding Economic and Civic Culture in the UAE. Calvert W. Jones Ph.D. Candidate, Yale University Visiting Scholar, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Background: Dissertation Research. How are Gulf state leaders seeking to adapt traditional social contracts?
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Understanding Economic and Civic Culture in the UAE Calvert W. Jones Ph.D. Candidate, Yale University Visiting Scholar, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research
Background: Dissertation Research • How are Gulf state leaders seeking to adapt traditional social contracts? • How are young people’s beliefs and attitudes evolving as a result? • Current focus on UAE and education reform
Why are attitudes important? • Young people’s beliefs and attitudes affect whether and how much they will contribute to the development of their country • Development as “self-discovery” (Hausmann & Rodrik, 2003)
The View from the Top:The Desired Citizen “We want Emiratis to take charge of their path through life with the confidence to map out a productive andfulfilling future for themselves and their nation.In their professional lives they will prove that the route to success lies through personal commitment, dedication and a strong work ethic. Satisfaction and motivation will reward their self-reliance and initiative; their appetite for risk-taking will be fuelled by a vigorous entrepreneurial spirit” (Vision 2021, p. 4)
Pilot Study: Ras al Khaimah • Purpose • Assess validity of survey instruments • Explore differences between Emiratis and non-Emiratis • 5 secondary schools, 62 students • Surveyed about economic, social, and political attitudes
The belief that there are returns to work (p=.04) Hard work doesn’t generally bring success—it’s more a matter of luck and connections In the long run, hard work usually brings success 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Emirati average (3.09) Non-Emirati average (2.15)
In general, are you willing or unwilling to take risks if there is a good chance of reward? (p=.002) I’m willing to take risks. I’m not willing to take risks. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Emirati average (3.06) Non-Emirati average (1.96)
How much, out of 100,000 AED, would you be willing to invest in a friend’s new company? (p=.03) • All of it • 95,000 • 90,000 • 85,000 • 80,000 • 75,000 • 70,000 • 65,000 • 60,000 • 55,000 • 50,000 • 45,000 • 40,000 • 35,000 • 30,000 • 25,000 • 20,000 • 15,000 • 10,000 • 5,000 • None of it Non-Emirati average:45,000 AED Emirati average:33,000 AED
Job Priorities 3 1 1 3 2 2
Values that ought to be encouraged in children 3 2 1 3 1 3 2
In Sum • Emirati respondents were less certain that there are returns to work, and less inclined to take risks. • But they were more positive toward the role played by science and technology in society. • And they believed more strongly that entrepreneurs ought to be admired by others. • Job priorities and values are very different.
Conclusions and Implications • Findings are preliminary • Further research is needed on reasons for differences • And on how different educational initiatives affect attitudes (causally) in these areas • Findings should help design more targeted policy responses, tailored to the needs of different populations of young people