Topic > Where Government Money Actually Goes in Kuwait

Between Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf, Kuwait sits mostly dry. Most of the country is desert-filled and habitable, except for the west coast where the majority of Kuwaitis live. The country had its problems like any other country, but the main problem was the Persian Gulf War between Kuwait and Iraq in 1990-1991. The country recovered quite quickly and now has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world (Anthony 2). The Kuwait government is also very helpful and promises a lot of financial help with subsidies, except that many people have yet to receive government help. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Kuwait has been ensuring roofs over its citizens' heads for a long time now, but it has not been as successful as initially hoped: "Kuwait citizens are entitled to government-subsidized housing – usually a detached two-story villa – once married. Typically more than three-quarters of newlyweds apply. The high demand has contributed to an overwhelming backlog published by the LSE Kuwait Program. The waiting list is now 100,000 applications long. Schwartz 1) Because their population grows so rapidly and more people get married, the demand for homes is increasing faster than they can supply them, leaving some married couples on waiting lists of up to 18 years for a home of a house by the newlyweds has always been high, support even began around the 1980s but has worsened over time Kuwait has had a successful government due to its oil production. This is something that Iraq tried to take away from Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War by setting fire to most of its oil wells. But Kuwait recovered quickly and has been very successful ever since, especially business-wise. Most government subsidies go to big businesses rather than people. “In 1991, Kuwait had assets of over $100 billion and earned more from its investments than from oil. However it was handled rather secretly; no one except the emir and very few of his associates knew how the fund worked and how the funds were invested” (Seznec 24). The money is kept secret, which is unusual, as citizens don't necessarily know where all the money is coming from and/or going to. The overall opinion on subsidies seems to be quite positive. Even if the money doesn't go directly to the people, it goes towards things that will help them in the long term: “Thanks to its vast oil wealth, Kuwait can and does subsidize almost every aspect of its people's lives: employment, healthcare, education, housing – and even some grocery stores. The government provides a job to virtually every Kuwaiti citizen, including women” (D'Aluisio 197). The government is doing everything it can to provide for the people without actually leaving them any money, but Kuwaitis don't seem to care as they all manage to find work, even the women, to provide for their families. Please note: This is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Kuwait has to depend heavily on oil production and commercial activities because it has no fertile land for agriculture. Their soil is rather dry and sandy, so it is not suitable for agriculture. They also live in extremely dry conditions and do not have easy access to water. For this reason there are intermittent water sources, but nothing is permanent. Despite all the struggles, the 2).