Dr. Hamad Kasasbeh

For decades, governments in Jordan have been formed mainly on political and circumstantial grounds rather than on economic and administrative competence. As a result, every new government behaves as if it is rediscovering the same problems, without clear performance standards or effective accountability. Public administration turns into a confused process closer to trial and error than to results-based governance.

This approach deepened after 2009, when most governments tied their policies to fiscal reform programs agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). National development visions lost ground, while most attention shifted to meeting financial obligations. Meanwhile, there was no strong focus on improving people’s living standards and expanding economic opportunities. The outcome was rising public debt, persistent unemployment, and declining investment, alongside growing reliance on loans and aid, without building long-term productive policies.

The numbers show the size of the challenge. Public debt has surpassed 110% of GDP, while growth has remained at only 2–3% for more than a decade. This rate is too low to keep pace with population growth or generate enough jobs. These figures reveal not just financial pressure, but also the cost of weak planning and unstable administration.

The absence of genuine public sector reform has worsened the crisis. Bureaucratic structures continue to consume resources instead of supporting development. At the same time, partnership between the public and private sectors has remained empty slogans, with little practical action. This lack of integration has slowed growth and placed a burden on future generations, who now inherit debts and missed opportunities they had no role in creating.

Although Jordan has qualified human resources and a strategic location, repeated borrowing and higher taxes have placed heavy costs on citizens. They now face inflation, weaker purchasing power, and declining services. At the same time, the development gap between the capital and other provinces has widened. Investments remain concentrated in Amman, while other regions suffer from weak productive projects, reinforcing a sense of inequality and dependency rather than participation in national growth.

Real opportunities in promising sectors such as renewable energy, the digital economy, and logistics were also missed. This was due to a lack of coordination between fiscal, monetary, trade, and investment policies. The Ministry of Finance focused narrowly on the deficit, while the Central Bank tightened its policies against inflation, without alignment with investment or trade strategies capable of driving growth. Some governments tried partial reforms such as updating laws or launching digital and investment initiatives. Yet, without continuity or measurable performance indicators, these efforts quickly lost momentum once those governments left office.

The current government came with a different background. It was formed on the basis of the Economic Modernization Vision 2033, supported by a detailed action plan and clear goals. The Prime Minister and several ministers had served in earlier governments since 2009 and were involved in shaping this vision from the start. This gave them an accumulated record of knowledge about the structural imbalances facing the economy. In addition, this government enjoys stronger political, financial, legislative, and technical support than its predecessors. That gives it an exceptional opportunity to move directly to implementation. Any delays or reliance on media statements alone would weaken public trust, especially since citizens now judge the government by what they experience in their daily lives — jobs, services, and opportunities — not by official narratives.

Today, the government faces a delicate equation. On one side are the requirements of the fiscal reform program with the IMF, which focuses on deficit control and debt reduction. On the other side are the goals of the Economic Modernization Vision, which seeks to stimulate growth, attract investment, and create jobs. Balancing these demands requires more than financial discipline. It also requires an institutional environment able to turn policies into tangible outcomes. This makes public sector reform and private sector empowerment a national priority. Genuine partnership must simplify procedures, improve efficiency, and open the way for new investment. Fiscal balance, however important, will not improve people’s lives unless it is linked to real growth, job creation, and a more competitive economy.

Beyond domestic challenges, Jordan also faces a pressing regional dimension. Israeli policies aiming to impose displacement on the Palestinian people represent a direct threat to Jordan’s demographic and economic stability. This means the government’s responsibility extends beyond economic reform. It must also build policies that shield the country from these external shocks by strengthening internal resilience and protecting the national economy.

In the end, the traditional path is no longer sustainable. Citizens cannot bear more taxes without real returns, and the economy cannot carry more debt without real growth. If Jordan succeeds in raising its growth rate to 5% in the coming years, public debt could fall to below 90% of GDP, with clear improvements in investment and employment. But if growth remains at 2–3%, debt could rise above 120% and further erode trust and investment. That is why the success of the current government is a national necessity. It is the King’s government and enjoys his confidence, and its success in implementation will be the success of Jordan — for its economy, its people, and its stability.