Hajizadeh Alireza, Seyedmohammadi Mohammad, Nosratnejad Shirin, Najafi Behzad, Sadeghi-Bazargani Homayoun, Imani Ali
Health Information Management Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Health Economics Department, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Health Econ Rev. 2024 Dec 20;14(1):106. doi: 10.1186/s13561-024-00587-3.
Given the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to examine the economic response policies implemented by governments. This study aims to review evidence from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including Iran, on COVID-19 economic response policies designed to protect households, vulnerable groups, and businesses.
Utilizing Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology, electronic search engines and databases were systematically searched to identify published studies within the timeframe of December 31, 2019, to 2022. Additionally, a gray literature search for relevant policy documents and reports was conducted. The following six-step approach was employed: (1) defining the review questions, (2) identifying relevant studies through database searches, (3) screening studies for inclusion, (4) extracting and charting data, (5) analyzing and presenting results, and (6) providing guidance and suggestions. Narrative synthesis was utilized for data analysis.
After a rigorous screening process, 53 studies were selected from a pool of 3392 search results. The findings are categorized into three primary groups: Households, vulnerable groups, and economic businesses. The majority of MENA countries implemented economic and social measures to support these groups, including stimulus packages, tax deferrals and exemptions, wage subsidies, and debt obligation deferments. The size of stimulus packages in MENA countries varied significantly, ranging from 0 to 14% of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The average stimulus package size in MENA countries was 3.67%, notably lower than the global average of 11%. Among the 64 selected countries, the average government support as a share of GDP was 6.3%, with Ecuador at the lowest (0.05%) and Germany at the highest (23%). In Iran, government financial support contributed approximately 7% to the Gross National Product.
MENA countries, including Iran, implemented diverse economic strategies and policies in response to the critical circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, tailored to their specific conditions. Assessing the effectiveness of these policies and the extent of the pandemic's long-term economic, health, and lifestyle impacts requires a more extended timeframe.
鉴于新冠疫情的重大影响，审视各国政府实施的经济应对政策势在必行。本研究旨在回顾包括伊朗在内的中东和北非（MENA）地区有关旨在保护家庭、弱势群体和企业的新冠疫情经济应对政策的证据。
采用阿克西和奥马利的范围综述方法，系统检索电子搜索引擎和数据库，以识别2019年12月31日至2022年期间发表的研究。此外，还对相关政策文件和报告进行了灰色文献检索。采用以下六步方法：（1）确定综述问题；（2）通过数据库检索识别相关研究；（3）筛选纳入研究；（4）提取和整理数据；（5）分析和呈现结果；（6）提供指导和建议。数据分析采用叙述性综合法。
经过严格筛选过程，从3392条搜索结果中选出53项研究。研究结果分为三大主要类别：家庭、弱势群体和经济企业。大多数中东和北非国家实施了经济和社会措施来支持这些群体，包括刺激计划、税收延期和豁免、工资补贴以及债务义务延期。中东和北非国家刺激计划的规模差异很大，占实际国内生产总值（GDP）的比例从0%到14%不等。中东和北非国家刺激计划的平均规模为3.67%，明显低于全球平均水平11%。在选定的64个国家中，政府支持占GDP的平均比例为6.3%，厄瓜多尔最低（0.05%），德国最高（23%）。在伊朗，政府财政支持对国民生产总值的贡献约为7%。
包括伊朗在内的中东和北非国家针对新冠疫情的严峻形势实施了多样化的经济战略和政策，并根据其具体情况量身定制。评估这些政策的有效性以及疫情对经济、健康和生活方式的长期影响程度需要更长的时间框架。
