Debt, Taxation, and the Struggle for Fairness in the Arab Region

Why Economic Justice Matters

Across the Arab region, people live the consequences of decisions made in ministries of finance and the boardrooms of international financial institutions. Debt repayments consume budgets that could fund schools or hospitals. Tax systems too often rely on ordinary people while those with wealth or corporate power carry far less of the burden. When governments negotiate reforms with the IMF or the World Bank, the outcomes frequently mean subsidy cuts, privatization, or new taxes on daily essentials.

Economic justice is about asking a simple but fundamental question: who pays, and who benefits? It is about making sure that the cost of economic crises is not borne disproportionately by the poorest, and that wealth and resources are mobilized fairly to serve public needs. For AWC, economic justice means ensuring that debt and taxation are transparent, equitable, and aligned with the rights of citizens, not just the interests of creditors, elites, or people in power. This means recognizing that debt is never just about numbers but about people’s lives, when repayments grow faster than revenues, governments slash social programs, delay infrastructure, or privatize basic services, and decisions taken behind closed doors reverberate through classrooms, clinics, and households.

 It also means acknowledging that taxation is one of the most powerful tools for redistribution and solidarity, yet in much of the region, systems lean on consumption taxes that force ordinary people to pay more for food, fuel, and medicine, while corporations and wealthy elites benefit from exemptions and loopholes. For AWC, advancing economic justice requires debt arrangements that are transparent, accountable, and socially responsible, alongside tax systems that prioritize taxing wealth, profits, and luxury over basic needs, closing the gaps that allow the richest to avoid contribution. Only through such approaches can states safeguard essential public spending, rebuild trust with their citizens, and prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term fixes.

In short, we are working for an economic order where the question “who pays?” is answered with “those who can afford to”, and where the dividends of reform are shared equitably across society.

Program objectives

In this program,AWC brings together members from across the region—researchers, advocates, and practitioners—who track how debt and taxation policies are reshaping lives in their countries. By pooling their knowledge, AWC identifies regional patterns, exposes the social costs of fiscal reforms, and develops alternatives rooted in fairness and accountability.

Our work unfolds on three levels:

• Researching and documenting how loan conditions and tax reforms affect people on the ground, from rising food prices to shrinking public services. 
• Advocating with international institutions  adopt policies that protect social spending, ensure fair taxation, and prioritize citizens’ needs. 
• Connecting movements across borders, so that civil society organizations, unions, and community groups can act together rather than in isolation. 

This combination of evidence, advocacy, and solidarity is what allows this program to challenge unfair fiscal rules and propose pathways that put people first.