The effect of media and economics on the divorce rate in Morocco

Dissertant

al-Fithuni, Yasminah

Thesis advisor

Hamelin, Nicolas

University

Al Akhawayn University

Faculty

The School of Business Administration

University Country

Morocco

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2013

English Abstract

Morocco is a country in the middle of an economic, technological and social change (World Bank, 2012).

Statistics show that Morocco is experiencing an intense decrease in poverty reaching 9% in 2012.

It is also witnessing an increase in GDP, education and internet usagein the last ten years (World Bank, 2012).

The technological and economic growth have played a role in shaping the Moroccan culture during the past decades.

Morocco is experiencing many social and technological advances since the King Mohammed VI stepped up to the throne in 1999 (Transforming Lives and Communities, 2013).

One of the major changes that the Moroccan society is witnessing today is the increase in divorce rate, reaching 13% in 2010 (Shikhani, 2010).

Using secondary data collected by the HCP (Haut Commissariat au Plan), Euromonitor, and World Bank, some major factors affecting the change in the divorce rate in Morocco were identified.

These factors affecting divorce rate were studied for both male and female in two separate models.

Both models suggest that the divorce rate is related to the different levels of education (primary, secondary, high school, and higher education levels), average age at marriage, annual income, media exposure, fertility rate, and the Moudawana family code.

The adjusted Coefficients of determination R² adjusted, F tests, T tests, and p-values were used to test the validity of the two models.

The t tests and the p-values all show that in the model regarding male, the significant variables are fertility, Moudawana, primary school, and media.

The insignificant variables are male’s income, male age at marriage, male’s secondary school, high school, and higher education.

However, in the model regarding female, the significant variables are Moudawana family code, secondary school, female higher education, and media.

The insignificant variables are female annual income, fertility, female age at marriage, female primary school, and female high school.The Moudawana new family code, female high school education, and male age at marriage were found negatively related to the divorce rate in Morocco.

The female and male annual income, female age at marriage, fertility, media, male and female secondary and higher education, female and male primary education, and male high school educationwere found positively related to the divorce rate, which explains that an increase in one of them, leads to the increase of the divorce rate.

The increase in the divorce rate can be causing the destabilization of many Moroccan families.

The divorce of couples does not only affect the spouses, but also influences the stability of the children.

“The failure to protect our most vulnerable citizens (children) can be a national crisis” (House, 2013).

The divorce behavior has been found as one of the factors increasing alcohol consumption, drug use, and crimes (House, 2013).

Children can be the most painful victims of divorce, and since children are the future generation, their instability will lead to the instability of the society.

The Moudawana was found to be a factor decreasing the divorce rate in Morocco.

This is a good starting point for the government to take action to reduce this phenomenon by creating awareness campaigns using media tools to explain to parents how their children and their lives can be destabilized and affected.

The government should also put in place guidelines and protocols to make sure that the Moudawana laws are respected and that the husband pays child support in the case of divorce.

Main Subjects

Business Administration

No. of Pages

67

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-627244