Emerging Lebanon

Towards Economic Growth and Social Welfare (2016)

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 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.

Introduction by Roger Nasnas

The Way to Prosperity: Development and Solidarity

The initiative of this book comes with the objective of breaking out from the existing conflict in the country where mingle the needy and protester voices, and for paving the way to a new society of welfare devoted to the good of citizens. It comes after “Emerging Lebanon – Towards an Economic and Social Vision” edited in 2007

Nine years have since elapsed, and we still find ourselves mired in a lame economy, a public administration that is plagued by vacancies yet to be filled and where corruption thrives, a fiscal situation characterized by bleeding from servicing a public debt that amounts to over US$ 70 billion to date, a weak tax collection system that has gone weaker, and the absence of voted state budgets since 2005.

Further, we find ourselves surrounded by the propagation of violence, instability and heightened concerns in many Arab countries, thus tying down their energies to their internal strife, and leaving their economies to fall into a situation characterized by powerlessness and all forms of bleeding. In addition, counter-terrorism efforts have taken the upper-hand over all other national priorities. (Read more)