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)

Adapting the Social Contract

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 and fulfilling 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)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

In the long run, hard work usually brings success

Hard work doesn’t generally bring success—it’s more a matter of luck and connections

Emirati average (3.09)

Non-Emirati average (2.15)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

I’m willing to take risks.

I’m not willing to take risks.

Emirati average (3.06)

Non-Emirati average (1.96)

In general, are you willing or unwilling to take risks if there is a good chance of

reward? (p=.002)

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

Emirati average: 33,000 AED

Non-Emirati average: 45,000 AED

Attitudes toward entrepreneurs (p=.000)

13

16

4

0 0

2

10

8

5

00

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Stronglydisagree

Entrepreneurs ought to be admired by other people

Fre

qu

ency Emirati

Non-Emirati

20

10

3

10

8

13

5

2

00

5

10

15

20

25

Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Stronglydisagree

Science and technology are making our lives healthier.

Fre

qu

ency Emirati

Non-Emirati

Attitudes toward science and technology: Item 1 (p=.03)

2

45

6

17

7 78

3 3

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Stronglydisagree

We depend too much on science and not enough on religious faith.

Freq

uenc

y Emirati

Non-Emirati

Attitudes toward science and technology: Item 2 (p=.000)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Money

My parents' expectations

Prestige

Rewards for creativity & initiative

Living near extended family

Contributing to UAE society

Job security

Same-gender work environment

Opportunities to solve problems

Respect from friends

Personal interests/a job I like

Jo

b P

rio

riti

es

Importance

Non-Emiratis

Emiratis

Job Priorities

1

2

31

2

3

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Obedience

Love of country

Determination, perseverance

Religious faith

Hard work

Thrift, saving money

Independence

Feeling of responsibility

Tolerance

Academic achievement

Val

ues

Importance

Non-Emirati

Emirati

Values that ought to be encouraged in children

1

2

3

1

2

3

3

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