In Saudi Arabia, EPoD collaborated directly with program and policy actors to conduct policy-research that bolster local labor markets and support social development.
To do this, EPoD worked with the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) in Saudi Arabia to identify labor policy priorities with the aim of producing concrete, evidence-based insights to inform better policy supporting the Saudi labor market. As with all our work, the decisions on research methodologies, results and policy recommendations rest solely with Harvard Kennedy School.
The work with HRDF focused on:
Policy-Research Process
Bringing together top-tier researchers and Saudi policymakers to generate in-depth knowledge on policy problems and design solutions using EPoD's Smart Policy Design and Implementation approach.
EPoD issued a request for proposals inviting researchers worldwide to submit proposals for Saudi labor market research. Applications were vetted through an independent, transparent committee – including faculty and PhD students across Harvard, EPoD staff, and senior Saudi policymakers – based on their policy relevance, academic rigor, and local engagement.
Capacity Building & Exchange
EPoD built organizational systems and leadership for evidence-based policy analysis and developing the capacity of local researchers through targeted workshops, seminars, fellowships, and exchange in Saudi, and beyond to disseminate research findings globally.
Outreach & Dissemination
Research findings were shared through symposiums, workshops, publications and policy briefs.
To date, EPoD has launched 25 research projects, led by 47 international and Saudi researchers, with funding from HRDF through three rounds of request for proposals. This research has been featured by VoxDev, the World Bank, and the Wall Street Journal, among others, and is published in top economic journals such as the American Economic Review and National Bureau of Economic Research.
Existing Research
EPoD hosts a portfolio of empirical research conducted by scholars from around the world on labor market and social development issues in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with MLSD and HRDF. The policy-research engagements use the principles of EPoD's Smart Policy Design and Implementation approach to generate in-depth knowledge of the current constraints in the areas of employment, social development, and job creation.
Click below to learn more about EPoD’s Policy-Research engagements by theme.
Human Capital Development & Job Creation
Effect of Self-control on Job Search and Human Capital Investment
Elif Incekara-Hafalir, University of Technology Sydney
Isa Hafalir, University of Technology Sydney
Understanding Skill Acquisition Decision Making using an Online Platform
Asim Khwaja, Harvard University
Jamal Haidar, Harvard University
Skill Development and Job Creation in Saudi Arabia
Abdul Ghaffar Mughal, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
Fahad Alsharif, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
Ina Ganguli, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Exploratory Interviews On Labor Market Perceptions
Andrew Leber, Harvard University
Employability and Unemployment
Reducing Unemployment Through Jobseeker Support
Rema Hanna, Harvard University
Rohini Pande, Harvard University
Saudization and Quotas
The Effects of Nitaqat on Aggregate Employment and Earnings
Jennifer Peck, Swarthmore College
Conrad Miller, University of California, Berkeley
Predicting Impact of Labor Market Policies
Faiyaz Doctor, University of Essex
Rahat Iqbal, Coventry University
Kasim Randeree, Coventry University
Women in the Labor Market
Childcare as a Potential Barrier to Women’s Employment in Saudi Arabia
Patricia Cortes, Boston University
Claudia Goldin, Harvard University
Jennifer Peck, Swarthmore College
Understanding and Shifting Social Norms of Female Labor Force Participation in Saudi Arabia
David Yanagizawa-Drott, University of Zurich
Leonardo Bursztyn, University of Chicago
Alessandra González, University of Chicago
Expanding Female Access to the Job Market through Affordable Commute
Erica Field, Duke University
Jawaher Al-Sudairy, Harvard University
Kate Vyborny, Duke University
Exploring Fixed Costs in Female Hiring: The Role of Adjustment Costs and Cultural Barriers
Jennifer Peck, Swarthmore College
Thiemo Fetzer, University of Warwick
Claudia Eger, University of Warwick
Mehmet Seflek, University of California Berkeley
Saleh Alodayni, King Saud University
Youth Employment
Improving Soft Skills for Saudi Youth
Adriana Kugler, Georgetown University
Farooq Ammar, Georgetown University
Lulwah Ayyoub, Georgetown University
Information Interventions in Higher Education: Developing Career Readiness in Saudi Arabia
Ina Ganguli, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Basit Zafar, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Building Non-Cognitive Values for Saudi Youth
Asim Khwaja, Harvard University
Jamal Haidar, Harvard University
Empowering Female Youth through Entrepreneurship and Business Leadership Development
Saeed Badghish, King Abdulaziz University
Imran Ali, King Abdulaziz University
Kristin Fabbe, Harvard Business School
Murad, Ali, King Abdulaziz University
Peer Effects in Job Search for Saudi Youth
Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Virginia Tech
Sudipta Sarangi, Virginia Tech
Wen You, Virginia Tech
Sultan Alkhuzam, King Saud University
Tamheer on the Job Training Program
Dr. Ammar Malik, Harvard University
Roman Klimke, Harvard University
Sukaina Alkuhlani, Harvard University
Samia Sekkarie, Harvard University
Mentorship, Entrepreneurship, and Labor Market Opportunity in Saudi Arabia
Dr. Alessandra L. González
Matching in Markets
Understanding Saudi College Student-Employer Matches and Preferences
Alessandra González, University of Chicago
Impact Evaluation of The Riyadh Metro Project
Ammar Malik, Urban Institute
Jawaher Al Sudairy, Harvard University
A Pilot Study on Occupational Choices by Saudi Youth
Fahad Saleh Alolayan, King Saud University
Yaseen Ghulam, Al Yamamah University
Saleh Alodayni, King Saud University
Shabbar Jaffry, University of Portsmouth
Alexandros Apostolakis, Technological Educational Institute of Crete
Developing Guidelines for Local Labor Markets
Dr. Jonas Bergan Draege, Harvard University
Andrew Leber, Harvard University
Social Development
Early Retirement in the Saudi Private Sector: A pilot study of the incentives in the pension and social insurance system
Nada Eissa, Georgetown University
Background Papers
"Back to Work in a New Economy: Background Paper on the Saudi Labor Market," summarizes existing evidence and labor policies in Saudi Arabia, identifies underlying causes of labor market constraints, and provides an economic framework for EPoD’s research-policy collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and Human Resources Development Fund. For this document, EPoD brought together 35+ researchers from top global institutions to identify the policy and theoretical grounding for further research policy collaborations.
"The Labor Market in Saudi Arabia: Background, Areas of Progress, & Insights for the Future," updates the 2015 EPoD-HRDF background paper, incorporating recent research. It identifies policies HRDF has undertaken to accomplish the goals of Vision 2030, and provides insights from the research projects to date.
EPoD seeks to develope concrete, evidence-based insights to inform better policy design in Saudi Arabia’s labor markets.
Women's challenges to driving remain four years post-driving ban in Saudi Arabia.
Social acceptance of female employment is key to promoting labor force participation.
Enhancing mentorship opportunities for high-school girls.
The importance of supporting entrepreneurial aspirations of young females.
The role of adjustment costs and cultural barriers in women’s employment.
Understanding Saudi College Student-Employer Matches and Preferences.