Education, health ‘top priorities’ for gov't spending, according to Jordanians — survey

AMMAN — Education and health services top Jordanians' priorities regarding government spending, receiving 26 per cent and 25 per cent respectively in a survey conducted by the University of Jordan's Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS).  

The CSS announced the results of the survey, conducted from November 23 to 25 in all governorates, on Sunday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The third priority for Jordanians was services and job-generating projects at 17 per cent, followed by infrastructure services at 13 per cent, while 6 per cent said that the government should spend more on public transport services.

A total of 72 per cent of surveyed Jordanians said that they are acquainted with the Kingdom's financial situation, while 26 per cent said that they know nothing about it.

The vast majority of those surveyed — 77 per cent — said that the Kingdom's financial and economic situation was "very bad", while 8 per cent said that Jordan's situation is better than neighbouring countries and another 8 per cent said that they are aware of the Kingdom's high debt and the budget deficit. 

As for services and issues the government should spend less on, according to Jordanian citizens, high salaries and expenditures of senior officials topped the list with 27 per cent, followed by spending on independent units with 9 per cent and MPs' salaries and expenditures with 5 per cent. 

Those who answered "I don't know" amounted to 27 per cent of the sample. 

Some 15 per cent of the surveyed Jordanians said that the government should increase and encourage investments to cover spending on various services, 8 per cent called for efficient utilisation of natural resources and 7 per cent requested lowering the salaries of ministers, lawmakers and senior officials. 

As for the state budget, 67 per cent of citizens said that it has a "very big impact" on their daily lives, while 17 per cent said it has little or no influence. 

Regarding the source of the money the government spends on citizens, 45 per cent of Jordanians said that the citizens themselves are the largest source and 17 per cent said that it comes from taxes and fees, while 15 per cent said that it is foreign aid and 12 per cent said "I don't know". 

On what they had heard about the 2020 state budget, 23 per cent of respondents answered "high deficit rate", and a similar percentage said "it will be referred to the Lower House for endorsement", while 20 and 10 per cent indicated "optimism for a better economic and financial condition" and "salary increase", respectively. 

A total of 62 per cent of the surveyed citizens know the authority tasked with drafting the budget and 38 per cent do not.