About Emerging Lebanon
Socio-economic program
Emerging Lebanon offers a socio-economic program in 16 chapters in permanent interaction and 11 reform projects elaborated by great civil servants that deserve attention. It is a program oriented towards economic recovery and social welfare. The aggregate trend of measures targets a largely timeless program to be translated into an action plan according to the conjuncture in which it could be applied. It is only a matter of identifying the critical factors and the sequencing of the action so that the program achieves its objectives in the short term. The primary effects of the program can create favorable expectations that will reverse the course of the economy, amplify demand and boost production, well before the achievement of the expected wealth effect of the adopted measures.
Twenty-four authors contributed to this book. It is the result of a dialogue between public actors and engaged economists; just likewise any issue that ought to be debated by the plenary of the Economic and Social Council. The subject matter is the object of the Council, which is the social dialogue. Though the General assembly was absent for a time, the Council, through this work, fulfilled its duties at best by guiding the public authority towards a national consensus on economic and social matters. It is easy to say, but one can only measure its extent after being aware that Roger Nasnas has pledged to submit all the thinking and conclusions of the book to public opinion criticism. Each topic of this book will be subject to an in-depth workshop with all the concerned parties or those who are able to shed light on the topic. As such, this book is defined as an input to a project that should achieve social development and progress that Lebanon deserves.
Research and Dialogue Platform
Revolt against established mess
1 – The revolution of October17, 2019 surprised everyone. Until then the Lebanese people seemed lethargic, drowned in confessionalism. Loyalty to the community was dominating all other allegiances and the cult of the chief seemed absolute.
In no time, the crowd found the gathering places in the city center. Everyone was surprised to notice that the movement instantly spread to all the cities of Lebanon. The whole country protested against the economic and social situation.
The future on move
2 – Any change initially induces resistance for several reasons. This can only reinforce the wave of change to the extent that this resistance delays its onset. It is imperative to understand the direction of history and to comply with it.
Going beyond confessionalism, social justice, respect for citizens and their rights are human and social values that must guide the leaders of the nation. One should not have the wrong target "vox populi vox Dei". Lebanese people find themselves in the values they have always advocated.
The astonished Lebanese people discover capital control
3 – The financial collapse and the need to impose a de facto control over capital, something Lebanon has not known since independence, have shown that the country was undergoing a systemic crisis. Recovery under existing structures was then impossible.
The transition from the rent economy to production economy requires much more than the budgetary provisions that the then government has implemented.
It was also the opportunity to instore a production economy, which avoids unemployment, reduces imbalances, and increases growth.
A recovery strategy
4 – An effective strategy would be to draw on the teamwork undertaken to elaborate the book in order to mark out the pillars of a revival of the economy. Indeed, such work requires many specialties and a team trained in cooperation, despite our natural individualism.
ELB aims to be a platform at the service of those who can shed real light on the situation and the means to get out of it. Assuming that nothing important is done unless it is built on the acquired knowledge of everything that has been done before in the field.
Recovery and Sustainable Development
5 – Crises can take many forms, but there is one thing in common, all drive to the impoverishment of the population. Sometimes the nation rises, and often the doldrums go on forever, making room sometimes for more underdevelopment.
The first objective of the platform is to get the private sector out of the crisis in order to solve the unemployment problem and bring the working population to the international benchmark. In the course, we will have solved the financial problem.
On the long run we should be translating the public policies raised by Emerging Lebanon into concrete programs for the inclusive development of the country.
The priority is to overcome depression
6 – The major risk lies in the obstinacy in solving the problems of the State in the almost total ignorance of the private sector. The trust that the economy will start as soon as the state budget is restored is wishful thinking. On the other hand, if the private sector regains its dynamism, it would be easy to restore the public budget.
When recession strikes, taxes should not be raised, otherwise the slump will be deepened without taxes generating any additional income. On contrary, the expansion of the economy is likely to bring more income to the state budget.
Starting capital
7 – The book is at the disposition of researchers in all three languages. It presents the ideal framework for understanding the Lebanese economy. Each chapter is the work of a specialist who submitted to the crossfire of the whole team. Two conclusions can be drawn from this: First, that the favorable interaction of the measures occupies a preponderant place; then that the spillovers or risks inherent to any economic policy are minimized. The public policies elaborated in the book constitute an excellent frame for the development programs to come.
The site also hosts the works that the authors would like to publish and which therefore constitute an application and a constant update of their work.
The foundations of change
8 – The second part of the book develops critical areas of public life at the initiative of great civil servants or recognized experts. This proves that human resources are available in the country in all sectors and at the highest level.
This part makes it possible to study the most serious problems of the Lebanese administration. There are no difficult ones to solve, there are only blockages due to the sectarian system.
Emergence in two stages
9 – Lebanon had time ago an edifying experience: the quadripartite government. A government of 4 has set out to raise the country after a debacle as deep as the one we are experiencing. After six months a normal government has started on a sufficiently solid basis to design and build all the institutions which until today constitute the backbone of the Lebanese administration. Nothing is impossible.