Lebanon’s economy witnessed a significant downturn starting in 2018, with its GDP plummeting from $54.9 billion in 2018 to $23.1 billion in 2021. This sharp decline underscored the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions to rejuvenate the nation’s economic framework.
The Crisis in Numbers
The financial crisis in Lebanon manifested in various alarming indicators. The country’s GDP annual growth rate took a nosedive from -1.88% in 2018 to a staggering -21.89% in 2020. This drastic reduction pointed towards a severe contraction in economic activities, investments, and consumption. Further exacerbating the situation was the soaring inflation rate, which reached 154.8% in 2020, eroding the purchasing power of the Lebanese people, destabilizing savings, and deepening economic hardships.
Agriculture: A Beacon of Hope
In the midst of this crisis, a potential solution emerged: leveraging Lebanon’s arable land, which constitutes 13.64% of the country’s total land area. Despite a slight increase in arable land over the past decade, the contribution of agriculture to Lebanon’s GDP witnessed a decline in 2020, signaling an underutilization of this vital resource.
Revitalizing Through Agricultural Enhancement
The proposed solution focuses on enhancing agricultural production. This can be achieved by diversifying crop production, adopting modern agricultural practices, and providing robust support to local farmers. Historically, the agricultural sector has received limited attention from credit bank managers due to perceived risks. Therefore, government incentives and subsidies could play a crucial role in encouraging agricultural growth and exports, thereby aiding in job creation and indirectly boosting the country’s GDP.
Sustainable Practices and Unique Opportunities
Lebanon’s diverse geography and microclimates offer a unique advantage for cultivating a variety of crops. The country’s rich agricultural heritage, featuring culturally significant crop varieties, coupled with sustainable farming practices, enhances the quality and marketability of its produce. The export potential of these unique crops holds promise for stimulating economic growth and fostering regional trade cooperation.
Concrete Steps Forward
Findings suggest that Lebanon’s agricultural sector harbors substantial growth potential, which remains largely untapped. Key recommendations include comprehensive agricultural policy reforms, investment in infrastructure, and promotion of sustainable practices. A collaborative approach involving the government, private sector, and international organizations is essential to effectively implement these recommendations.
Conclusion: A Vision for Recovery
Lebanon stands at a critical juncture where investing in agricultural production and harnessing the potential of its arable land can serve as a cornerstone for economic recovery. This strategy not only aims to enhance the country’s food exports and optimize resource use but also addresses the pressing issues of unemployment and GDP growth.
In essence, Lebanon’s journey towards economic resilience can be significantly bolstered by a strategic pivot to agriculture, tapping into the nation’s inherent strengths and fostering a sustainable and prosperous future.
Having the opportunity to pursue higher education is considered a luxury in some countries, as educational opportunities are not equal in all countries. Education has a huge impact on all life aspects; it increases the awareness, betters health, leads to higher life expectancy, progresses economy and many other life aspects would develop.
Education is one of the forces that shape the development and growth of the countries. It has a huge impact on many aspects; it shifts the nation towards more productivity and advancement. The impact of tertiary education will be visualized and discussed below.
1. Awareness and Empowerment:
Education provides knowledge to the public; advancing their thoughts and grows ambitions. This has been proven by the bar chart as it reflects the positive relation between tertiary education and human development.
2. Health and wellbeing:
Providing better and further opportunities for nations to education, making it accessible to everyone has proven the positive correlation on the development of a country’s population. It enhances the health aspect of the country as we can see in the charts; more developed countries seem to have lower infant and maternal mortality due to the high percentage of enrolled students in tertiary education and less out of pocket expenditures on health, in addition to a noticeable positive correlation with life expectancy. As education is one of the main influences on a country’s development, it impacts the health sector. We can also see that a higher number of physicians are available per thousand in contrast with less developed countries.
Economy and development:
The economy of a country is built on the willingness of the population to work and achieve, having the drive and purpose to reach. We can see that developed and educated countries tend to have higher workforce percentage, higher gross domestic income (GDP) than that of undeveloped countries. Additionally, the minimum wage is much higher.
By acknowledging education as the main foundation to development and enhancement, it will be possible to foster a perfect environment for empowering, flourishing, and competitive country, one which strives for enhancement and development.
NCDs are the non-communicable diseases which are cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular ,chronic respiratory diseases. Actually,
If you’ve not been exposed to a close person dying or suffering from NCDs, which I doubt to be the case, then you are extremely lucky. But, most probably, you will pass through a stage in your life where you would feel the danger of these diseases and realize how big is this number of people dying each year.
High percentage of Mortality Caused by NCDS from total mortality
Based on the figure above we see that the mortality caused by NCDs from total mortality rate for the displayed Arab countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Somalia, and others are really high. Comparing these values to countries like France, Germany, and UK for example, the percentage for the Arab Countries is about double and sometimes triple that of France, Germany and UK. The problem is not only in the high percentage but in the fact that it is almost the same throughout 2016 till 2019(no data after 2019). So, what if we don’t deal with this situation? Then, for example, in Somalia, another 30% will die from NCDs this year and then the same happens in the next year and so on.
But, what could be the reason for such high percentages?
Correlation between government expenditure on health and mortality caused by NCDs
Take a look at the above figure. it is clear how the orange color(low government expenditure on health) corresponds to the blue color(high mortality caused by the diseases). and it is clear how the intensities are almost not changing through the years for each country. In other words, governments are not changing their expenditure on health which is leading to keeping the mortality as is.
So, the solution seems to be clear. Increasing government expenditures on health will do the job as displayed and this is validated in the below figure where Germany and UK for example show that the higher percentage of government expenditure on health has led to lower percentage of mortality caused by NCDs from total mortality.
But, what are the steps that these Arab countries should follow in order to decrease mortality caused by NCDs?
Investment in Healthcare Infrastructure: Allocate funds to improve healthcare facilities.
Preventive Healthcare Programs: Develop awareness campaigns and screenings to promote healthy living such as avoiding tobacco and drinking filtered water.
Increased Research Funding: Invest in local research and make partnerships with more modernized countries to learn from their strategies in this field for more effective interventions.
Health Insurance Expansion: Widen coverage for accessible healthcare services
Countries like Germany, and the UK showcase successful validations of investment, preventive care emphasis, and research funding, correlating with better healthcare outcomes since they have low mortality caused by NCDs from the total mortality as displayed in the previous map.
Moreover, governments can influence private health expenditures, which denote the total spending on healthcare by private entities within a country, excluding public funds. They do so through tax incentives, regulations, subsidies, and partnerships to encourage higher private health spending. In addition the government can raise awareness Campaigns to encourage increasing private health expenditures since more stabilized countries like UK, Germany, France have very high domestic private health expenditures per capita(current US$) as displayed in the figure below compared to the Arab countries mentioned where for example the lowest value is recorded by Sudan in 2018 to be 25$ and the highest which is recorded by Iraq in 2019 is 120$. These are really low values compared to lowest value by UK which is 771$ in 2017 and the highest recorded by Germany in 2018 which is 1252$. So, it is obvious the huge difference in the domestic private health expenditures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, These Arab countries that are experiencing higher mortality rates from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) due to lower government health spending can learn from successful healthcare models in Germany, France, and the UK. This correlation highlights the urgency for action. Governments in these Arab nations must prioritize investing in healthcare infrastructure, forming partnerships with advanced healthcare systems, and encouraging private health spending. Collaborative efforts between public and private sectors offer a path to narrow healthcare gaps, significantly improving overall healthcare quality and accessibility.
We’ll explore how Lebanon’s unemployment rates compare with other Arab nations and discuss innovative strategies to address this challenge. Our focus is on understanding the current situation and proposing effective solutions for economic growth and stability.
The Problem of High Unemployment in Lebanon
Lebanon’s Struggle: A markedly high unemployment rate compared to the wider Arab world.
Comparative Statistics: Lebanon’s unemployment rate stands at 12.76% among those with advanced education, a stark contrast to Qatar’s 0.4%.
Regional Perspective: Lebanon’s total unemployment rate of 8.6% amidst the Arab nations.
Proposed Solution: Adapting to Industry Evolution through Training and Partnerships
Skill Enhancement: Continuously update training programs to stay in sync with evolving industry demands.
Certification and Recognition: Offer certification or accreditation for completed training programs.
Access to Opportunities: Provide resources for job seekers to access these training opportunities.
Collaboration with Industry: Establish partnerships with businesses to create internship and apprenticeship programs.
Detailed Solution Strategy: Comprehensive Approaches to Address Unemployment
Tailored Education: Implement education and training programs specifically designed to meet industry demands.
Entrepreneurship and SME Support: Foster entrepreneurship and aid in small business development.
Collaborative Efforts: Strengthen ties between educational institutions, government entities, and the private sector.
Investment in Growth Industries: Focus on industries with high potential for job creation and economic impact.
Solution Validation:
Benchmarking Success: Drawing insights from successful interventions in regions with similar challenges.
Pilot Programs and Case Studies: Initiating tests to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies.
Conclusions and Recommendations:
Multifaceted Approach: A combination of targeted education and training, entrepreneurial support, and strategic industry investments is recommended for Lebanon.
Aiming for Economic Growth: This strategy aims to utilize Lebanon’s larger labor force effectively to bridge the unemployment gap and foster economic growth.
In the heart of Lebanon, where the scent of history mingles with the bustling present, lies a narrative etched with resilience and aspirations. It’s a tale of the Lebanese labor force, a mosaic of diverse talents, aspirations, and educational backgrounds. Amidst the picturesque streets and vibrant markets, the educational landscape weaves a complex tapestry. Statistics reveal a poignant truth: three-quarters of working males navigate the intricacies of the professional realm armed with only basic education. This staggering statistic echoes the challenges and triumphs ingrained in the Lebanese society. Ali, a young man with dreams as expansive as the Mediterranean horizon, represents the embodiment of this statistic. His days begin before the sun graces the sky, navigating the narrow alleys on his way to work. With only a basic education tucked under his arm, Ali immerses himself in the realm of hard work and determination. Ali’s father, a seasoned artisan, passed on his trade secrets and skills, shaping Ali’s destiny. In a country where craftsmanship is revered, Ali’s hands create wonders—meticulously sculpting wood into elegant furniture pieces that narrate tales of tradition and craftsmanship.
Despite the absence of advanced degrees, Ali’s dedication and craftsmanship propel him forward. His creations not only adorn the homes of locals but also catch the attention of discerning eyes in far-off lands. His mastery speaks volumes, transcending the barriers imposed by limited educational qualifications. Yet, amidst Ali’s success, there exists a palpable yearning for more. His gaze often lingers on the doors of higher education institutions, where he envisions a path to further honing his skills and expanding his horizons. However, the constraints of time and financial obligations serve as formidable barriers, casting a shadow on his aspirations. But amidst these challenges, solutions emerge. Accessible vocational programs begin to flourish, offering specialized training to bridge educational gaps. Scholarships tailored for skilled individuals like Ali emerge, alleviating financial barriers to higher education. Flexible learning opportunities surface, allowing working individuals to pursue education without compromising their livelihoods. Industry-academia collaborations create specialized programs, aligning education with market demands, enhancing employability. Community mentorship programs blossom, showcasing alternative pathways to success beyond traditional academia. Government initiatives incentivize businesses to invest in employee education, fostering growth.
Males in Labor force with basic education are 40% more than females
To give a specific example, It is clear that Zahle District has limited number of Universities, thus limited options to Students and most of the universities are in Zahle City.
