Executive Summary of ‘Evaluation Design of Hafiz Program in Saudi Arabia’
This research paper attempts to create a plan for evaluating the Hafiz program implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to combat rising unemployment rates among Saudi citizens. In 2015, Saudi Arabia experienced strikingly high unemployment rates, despite its remarkable economic performance in terms of GDP and GDP per capita. Moreover, the unemployment seemed to center around Saudi natives, especially women. Started in 2011, the Hafiz program was one of the several initiatives taken by the government to eradicate the problem. The program provides unemployment benefits, training and qualification programs to unemployed Saudis, aged between 20-35 years, for a 12-month period. The eligibility criteria for the program are kept very stringent to avoid structural unemployment in the long-term.
This research paper intends to measure the impact of the program on overall labor market outcomes like development of human capital and individual well-being outcomes like quality of life. Apart from that, it aims to collect data on demographic variables, like geographical region, education, age, experience and gender, and other variables that influence unemployment rates in the country.
Data collection methodology includes surveys of Saudi citizens residing in Makkah, Riyadh and Eastern Province. The sampling technique involves cluster sampling method to determine the sample size of the survey participants. It is recommended to maintain a sample size of at least 2,794 respondents. The regression discontinuity approach will be used for data analysis. As the approach compares results of individuals just-above and just-below the cut-off point, the treatment group is restricted to respondents aged 33-35 years in 2011, while the control group is limited to respondents aged 36-38 years in 2011.
