Figure 10: Anti-Corruption Performance Measurement Indicators Corruption —- Comparison to Selected Countries Irregular Payments & Bribes and Diversion of Pubic nds World EceoomeF nk out of (148 counties), Selected Counties, 2013-2014 Source: Transpareney Infernational, The Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014 1.2.2 Citizenship Citizenship — the sense of belonging, equality before the law and equal opportunities -is a vital prerequisite for any prosperous and stable society. Acts of good citizenship come in many forms, for example voting in national and municipal election, driving safely, and volunteering time to support a community group. Along with strong family ties, citizenship is one of the vital threads that strengthen the social and cultural fabric for our future. Public debate about the importance of citizenship has gained significant prominence over the past year through the discussion papers issued by His Majesty King Abdullah Il Majesty, in which he has outlined what ‘Active Citizenship’ means, why it is so important and how Jordanians can embrace the principle of active citizenship in their everyday life. Just as it is a vital ingredient into our political development journey, Active Citizenship also has vitally important economic as well as social implications. For example paying taxes is an important act of responsible citizenship. Good neighbors, who are mindful of rubbish and keeping shared spaces clean, are also good citizens. The growth of our civil society sector over the past decade is encouraging, with 127 international non-governmental organizations and 4500 local organizations operating in Jordan in this area, in addition to new programs and platforms for volunteerism that are spreading fast. Improving the depth and resilience of our social fabric through a strong sense of shared pride and a culture of active civic ‘engagement must remain a key priority for the future. 1.2.3 Families and Local Communities. The family, which constitutes the bedrock of Jordanian society, has witnessed tremendous change in the face of numerous external pressures over the last decade. The rapid growth of the Kingdom in the decade prior to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis brought about significant changes in daily life, including new amenities and services and the proliferation of technology. As they have al around the world, these new developments have reshaped the identity, lifestyle and habits of all our citizens. ‘The education level of Jordanian women has also significantly improved and brought about a shift in the ‘outlook and expectations of many Jordanian women, including a desire by many to have a career as well as a family. The confluence of these factors has placed new and challenging pressures on Jordanian families. It is not surprising in light of social and economic pressures that the fertility rate in Jordan has fallen and that incidents of divorce have increased. In 1976, the fertility rate in Jordan was 7.4 children per female. By 2012, it had fallen to 3.5 children per female. Conversely, the divorce rate has increased significantly in recent years rising to 2.6% in 2011, 2.8% in 2012 and 2.9% in 2013. Families are also vitally important for shaping the aspirations of our youth and instilling them with the civic values and ethics. Parenting attitudes have a direct impact on the life skills and attitudes passed on to the next generation, which in turn can have a big impact on educational attainment levels and employability skills later in life when they join the labour market. wiry WAN