By Moign Khawaja – Editor: Arabian Gazette

If you are confused as to why most of the respected political analysts and the mainstream media is biased over reporting the facts behind the popular uprisings against decades-old regimes and is painting it as mere foreign intervention or imperialist designs, then this piece reveals the top 10 reasons behind the onset of Arab Spring and its continuation despite the lapse of over a year.

REASON #1: INFLATION AND SHORTAGES

arab inflation

Tunisians holding a protest against the post-Ben Ali government in Tunis. Most Tunisians are unhappy with the spiralling food prices and the new government's failure to provide stability and improve economic situation in the country. Photo - Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

According to the dictionary, a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money is known as inflation. The effects on the economy are varied and can be both positive and negative at the same time. However, the negative effects clearly outweigh the positive ones.

In the common man’s language, a spike in the prices of fuel can spiral the prices of almost all other items like food, transportation, electricity, rent, raw materials etc. and erode the purchasing power. While prices of the daily usage commodities go up immediately, the wages do not necessarily see an increase, both in the public and private sector, and a worker takes home the same amount of wages but less of value that can help him/her meet the expenses.

The situation gets worst when the shortfall between the income and expenses is further compounded by the lack of healthcare and education services, forcing people to cut back on expenses or borrow money to make ends meet. The other effect of inflation is on the borrowing rate of money that is often overlooked. Banks, which are not really poor and working-class friendly, do not lend money to the struggling people. As a result, the loan sharks come to fill the gap and lend money to the needy people on exorbitant rates. The desperate ones may just get the money they need but they fell into the trap of repaying higher interest rate as well as the amount of money borrowed.

It is true that governments are not always in the position to tackle inflation. However, it is inevitably the economic policies they adopt in short/long term that sees a hike in prices of goods and creates shortages. This dents the public trust and makes it hard for the policy makers to win the confidence of the masses. The governmental economic teams make announcements after announcements of containing the inflation but the effect does not trickle down to the general public and their patience wears down, eventually leading to street protests.

The cost of living keeps on rising that not only dents consumer confidence but also jolts the socio-economic plates. Due to reduced earnings and rising food and non-food items, a family that once enjoyed the middle class status will feel relegated to a lower economic level whereas the working class will be driven to the extent that it will not be able to cope with the day-to-day living expenses. As a result, there is social unrest, which can see street crime rates spiralling and an increase in corruption.

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