Foreign Workers and the Provision of Public Services: The Case of Kuwait

Abstract

Seeks to provide some insight as to the scope for population policy in post‐war Kuwait, where officially the Government is committed to reducing the expatriate population. Specifically attempts to determine which public services were most likely to be responsive to increases in the foreign population. Were these services provided to both Arab and Asian workers alike or were the patterns of supply somewhat different by nationality? Did public services adjust quickly to increases in the foreign population or were the increased provisions spread out gradually over time? Mainly finds that, despite the early post‐liberation statements of Kuwaiti officials, it will not be possible to dispense entirely with foreign workers. There is a good chance, however, that the Government′s political policy of replacing Palestinian workers with those from Asia will provide the unintended benefit of considerable budgetary savings.

Citation

Looney, R.E. (1993), "Foreign Workers and the Provision of Public Services: The Case of Kuwait", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 24-39. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068299310023923