by nfs00 | Apr 29, 2025 | Uncategorized
Lebanon has faced one of the most severe inflationary crises in recent history, deeply impacting both consumers and businesses. Food prices alone skyrocketed by an astounding 5,803%, shaking household stability and business operations alike. The annualized food inflation stands at 41.49%, with a maximum drawdown of -12.13%, reflecting the volatility and hardship Lebanese communities endured.
The period between 2019 and 2021 marks a critical inflection point. In just two years, Lebanon witnessed a dramatic +204% rise in average food inflation — a surge that reshaped the commercial and social landscape.
But inflation alone doesn’t tell the full story. Our analysis further investigates the commercial structure of Lebanese towns to better understand resilience and vulnerability. The findings reveal that 63.68% of towns are dominated by large businesses, while 36.32% are small-business dominated. This distinction is crucial: towns led by small enterprises often face greater risk during economic shocks, given their limited financial buffers.
Moreover, identifying economic hubs such as Choueifat El-Aamrousiyeh, home to 300 service institutions, highlights key centers that could drive recovery efforts if supported strategically.
This visualization aims to synthesize the inflationary trends and business structures into a single coherent narrative. It offers not just an overview of the crisis but highlights opportunities for targeted policy interventions. Strengthening small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and stabilizing commercial ecosystems are critical steps toward Lebanon’s economic recovery.
Explore the full visualization below to better understand the shifts shaping Lebanon’s economic future.
by nwh00 | Apr 28, 2025 | Uncategorized
For many young graduates, a diploma is no longer enough to guarantee an opportunity. It marks the start of a harder journey, one that demands more than academic success.
In 2024, the global challenge of youth unemployment remains high, and the real question is no longer “What did you study?” It’s “What can you do?“
This perspective highlights that unemployment is not distributed equally. Regions such as Northern Europe and parts of Asia manage to keep unemployment low, while Sub-Saharan Africa struggles deeply.
The Middle East, where many graduates study, live, or plan their futures — sits somewhere in between.
Opportunities exist, but they are neither evenly distributed nor easily accessible.
Lebanon, Cyprus, and the Gulf offer examples of how education systems produce graduates, but labor markets respond in very different ways.
Entering the workforce is particularly difficult for those under 25. Adults aged 25 and older maintain stronger employment rates across all countries, while youth face more volatile and limited prospects.
In addition, gender deepens the divide. Young women, even when highly educated, often face slower transitions into employment, with Cyprus standing out as a rare case where gender differences narrow meaningfully.
Even when employment is secured, challenges persist. Weekly working hours remain high across Lebanon and the Gulf, often exceeding 45–48 hours per week, while monthly earnings for employees, especially in Lebanon, fall far behind regional standards.
Now, it might seem logical to assume that achieving better employment opportunities, with higher wages and fairer working hours, depends mainly on higher education. However, the reality is more complex.
Higher education does not necessarily improve workforce participation (the proportion of the population that is economically active) and does not guarantee equal access to opportunities.
Participation rates are generally stronger for those with advanced education levels, particularly in countries like Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. However, disparities remain visible. In Lebanon, for instance, youth with less than basic education report some of the highest participation rates, a reflection of broader economic instability pushing young people into early, often informal work.
Across many countries, the relationship between education level and labor force participation is not consistent. Advanced education does not always translate into higher employment, highlighting how unstable economies, skill mismatches, and limited job creation continue to restrict real opportunities, even for the highly educated.
In today’s labor markets, success depends on more than diplomas. In a world of constant change, what opens real doors are the skills you build, the ones that employers need, but universities don’t always teach. Technical expertise, digital literacy, language proficiency, and practical certifications have become the new roadmaps to unique opportunities.
While higher education remains important, it does not guarantee strong participation in the labor market. Data shows that individuals with higher occupational skills consistently achieve better employment outcomes across the region, regardless of formal education levels.
In some cases, individuals with basic or intermediate education paired with high technical skills have stronger employment rates than university graduates with lower skill levels.
This mismatch highlights a critical truth: instability in economies, limited job creation, and the growing demand for practical, adaptable abilities mean that education without skill is no longer enough.
Today’s graduates must think beyond traditional academic achievements. Building employability now demands combining education with real-world, adaptable skills.
Degrees open doors.
Skills build futures.
Opportunity is still out there, but today, it belongs to the prepared.
by obe00 | Apr 28, 2025 | Uncategorized
Airports function beyond being pure transport facilities because they showcase a country’s economic state together with its social transformation while revealing its sentiments. These facilities offer narratives which display how the country expands together with its battles for recovery and its aspirations for better days ahead. My research examined Lebanon’s airport operations throughout 2005 to 2019 by studying the evolution of passenger traffic alongside goods transportation and postal services.
Lebanon experienced continuous growth of airport traffic during fifteen years which signaled the country’s improvement as a tourist location and international trade center and national diaspora hub. The growth experienced a sudden discontinuation during these two major disruptions. During the July War of 2006 airport operations suffered a complete breakdown which badly damaged both aviation arrivals and departures activities. The year 2019 brought the second major disruption to Lebanon through its entry into a profound economic crisis that initiated another substantial decline. The smaller transit segment of airport traffic experienced two peaks during 2007 post-war when airlines rerouted flights through Beirut and in 2015 which demonstrated Lebanon’s regional strategic importance.
The freight and mail transportation performance provides supplementary information regarding this historical narrative. The transport of freight experienced an early 2006 decline followed by exceptional growth. The airport experienced its most significant volume ever in 2013 which pointed to rising international trading operations in Lebanon. After 2013 freight volume displayed erratic movement which might result from uncertainties in regional and local market conditions. Mail transport presented contrary information to the rest of the data. The airport experienced gradual decreases in mail loading and unloading activities throughout the years followed by brief elevation points between 2008 and 2010. The world demonstrates a general movement toward electronic communication coupled with fresh shipping methodologies at the expense of traditional mail systems.
Seasonal patterns revealed comprehensive information about how life operated in Lebanon. The summer season became the busiest time at the airport as Lebanese expatriates and tourists came to spend their time in Lebanon during June through August. The month of December attracted significant transit travel activity that probably resulted from holiday travel within the region.
In conclusion, Lebanon’s airport activity between 2005 and 2019 serves as a powerful mirror of the nation’s broader story. The time series reveals the full scope of Lebanese progress while also displaying key periods of inadequate situations and societal adjustments to change. The airport data demonstrates that Lebanon maintained its global connectivity throughout disruptions because its diaspora connections and tourism sector and business orientation kept it connected to international activities. The observed patterns reveal more than airport freight statistics because they demonstrate the way nations handle both internal difficulties and external opportunities in the world today. The statistics reveal real people in motion who manage multiple missions of transportation with goods and dreams across international lines
by mmb00 | Apr 28, 2025 | Uncategorized
This blog post explores the global landscape of child employment, with a special focus on agriculture, and highlights the urgent need for us to become more responsible consumers.
Do you remember the first time you tasted chocolate?
Chocolate is a symbol of joy and celebration, but it hides a darker reality. The sweetness we enjoy may come at a cost, a cost paid by children who are forced to work in the cocoa fields. Behind the familiar wrappers, there’s a bitter truth about the exploitation of children in the chocolate.
Looking at the map, we can see that countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the highest child employment is concentrated and parts of Asia are the most affected by child employment, with some regions experiencing rates of almost 50%.
To understand the scale of the issue, it’s crucial to recognize that 66% of child employment is concentrated in agriculture, with a significant portion tied to the cocoa industry. Children working on cocoa farms are often subjected to dangerous working conditions, where they handle sharp tools, carry heavy loads, and work long hours in harsh environments. While child employment also exists in services and manufacturing, agriculture remains the sector with the highest rate of child employment.
In the context of agriculture, including cocoa farming, gender is not a barrier when it comes to child employment. Both boys and girls are affected, with 56% of child workers being boys and 44% being girls.
The 10 countries with the lowest education expenditure are, in fact, the very same countries that experience high child employment rates. These nations invest little in education, making it harder for children to access schooling, and leaving them vulnerable to being pushed into working.
We know that, of course, increasing education expenditure will help reduce child employment, as it gives children the opportunity to attend school instead of working.
However, what can we do as consumers to make a difference in the meantime?
As consumers, we have the power to influence change by supporting Fair Trade products. By choosing Fair Trade certified chocolate , we can ensure that farmers are paid fairly, and children are given the opportunity to go to school instead of working in the fields. With every Fair Trade purchase, we can be confident that child employment/labor is not part of the supply chain.
Fair Trade practices lead to a substantial 20% decrease in child employment in countries that have enforced Fair Trade certification. These countries have experienced a reduction in child employment, helping children in cocoa-producing regions avoid hazardous.


By choosing Fair Trade products, we’re actively helping to break the cycle of child employment. While we may not be able to solve the problem overnight, each purchase we make can contribute to a future where children are free to learn, grow, and thrive without being forced to work. Let’s make our choices count. Together, we can create a better world, one Fair Trade product at a time.
By Magdalena Bodouris
by mcm17 | Mar 16, 2025 | Uncategorized
Early childhood pregnancies – Adolescence 15-19 years: A look at India vs China
Problem: Adolescent pregnancy
Early childbearing or pregnancy is a global issue. It is estimated that 13% of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 give birth before they turn 18. Early pregnancy negatively affects their education, livelihoods, and health, as girls often drop out of school, hindering their career aspirations, employment prospects, and opportunities. There are social and health consequences of adolescent pregnancy that can lead to stigmatization, rejection, violence, and early marriage.

Map of India and China – Average Adolescent Fertility Rate (births per 1000 women aged 15-19 yrs) 1979 to 2022 (China vs India) Map
Problem Evidence: A review of adolescent fertility rate in India vs China

Adolescent Fertility Rate (births per 1000 women aged 15-19 yrs) 1979 to 2022 (China vs India)
• In 2022, China’s adolescent fertility was 5 births per 1000 women. The highest rate was recorded in 1987 at 30 births per 1000 women.
• Comparatively, India had 14 births per 1000 women in the same year. In 1982, India recorded the highest fertility rate of 161 births per 1000 teenage women. The global average rate from 1979 to 2022 was 34.56 births per 1000 women!
• In 2022, India overtook China to become the world’s most populous country at 1.46 billion people
Potential Solution: Education, Social Support and Legislative Reforms
The Indian government recognizes the factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy and that the determinants for addressing this issue revolve around government policies, access to reproductive health education, social awareness, social support systems, and legislative reforms.
Solution Details
• Reproductive Education: The Indian government should integrate reproductive health education into the national curriculum to address taboos and promote safe reproduction practices. The lack of sexual reproductive health knowledge increases the risk of adolescent pregnancy.
• Strengthen Social Support Institutions: The government should establish youth-friendly reproductive health systems to promote and support teenage women. These systems can work to distribute contraceptives, provide family planning methods, offer early pregnancy diagnosis, and deliver counseling on pregnancy options.
• Community Awareness Programs: Parents, teachers, and social workers should actively participate in reproductive health awareness programs. Local authorities can monitor the prevalence and prevent child marriages.
Solution Evidence
• In contrast, the Chinese government implemented the one-child policy from 1979 until 2016. Although this policy may not have directly influenced the adolescent fertility rate, it maintained a stable population growth rate. This demonstrates that government interventions are effective.

Adolescent Fertility Rate, India vs China, 1979 to 2022
• The UNFPA China policy brief on ending unintended pregnancies among Chinese Youth by 2030 also offers solution strategies implemented by China.
• In Uganda, the government and UNICEF are implementing a four-year national strategy to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy from 2022-2023 to 2026-2027. This policy responds to a sharp increase in adolescent pregnancies in 2020, with a rise of 25% among those aged 15-19 years and 366% among those aged 10-14 years.
• Mexico developed two strategies, the National Strategy for the Prevention of Teen Pregnancy and a Model of Comprehensive Care in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Adolescents. Between 2014 and 2018, the adolescent fertility rate slightly decreased from 77.0 to 70.6 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19.
Recommendation: Way Forward
India can draw similarities from other countries and implement policies that suit Indian society. The following are recommended strategies to mitigate adolescent pregnancies:
a. Promulgate and Strengthen laws prohibiting early child marriages such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006.
b. Establish information repositories or databases on teenage pregnancies to set up early warning systems. This information can be used to conduct studies and design targeted interventions.
c. Integrate reproductive health education in the national education curriculum
d. Establish strong social support systems to promote awareness, welfare support and community involvement.
References:
1. DTE, 2025. Combating Adolescent Pregnancy in India. Retrieved from https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/combating-adolescent-pregnancy-in-india
2. Estrade, Fatima et al, 2022. Public policy on the prevention of subsequent adolescent pregnancy: what type of policy prevails? Retrieved from https://scielosp.org/article/csp/2022.v38n9/e00025922/en/
3. Government of Uganda, 2022. THE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO END CHILD MARRIAGE AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY 2022/2023 – 2026/2027 – “A SOCIETY FREE OF CHILD MARRIAGE AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY”. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/uganda/media/13666/file/National%20Strategy%20to%20end%20Child%20marriage%20and%20Teenage%20Pregnancy%202022-2027.pdf
4. UNFPA China, 2013. Ending Unintended Pregnancies among Chinese Youth by 2030. Retrieved from https://china.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Ending%20Unintended%20Pregnancies%20among%20Chinese%20Unmarried%20Youth%20by%202030-Final.pdf
by rmj36 | Mar 16, 2025 | Uncategorized
“Imagine a world where millions of young girls wake up every day without access to education. A world where poverty, cultural barriers, and systemic challenges prevent them from achieving their full potential. Unfortunately, this is not a hypothetical scenario—it is the reality for over 130 million girls worldwide. Today, we will explore the global and Arab crisis of out-of-school girls, the factors contributing to this crisis, and the urgent actions needed to ensure education for all.”
A Growing Global Crisis
Across the world, millions of young girls wake up every day without the opportunity to go to school. The reality is harsh—education, a fundamental human right, remains an unfulfilled dream for far too many. The latest figures paint a troubling picture of widespread educational exclusion, particularly in Africa and parts of Asia.
The top 10 most affected countries include:
- Burkina Faso, Gambia, Niger, Guinea, Morocco, Senegal, Central African Republic, Burundi, and Oman.
- These nations struggle with deep-rooted economic, cultural, and political challenges that have made female education difficult to sustain.
In the Arab world, the situation is equally concerning. Countries such as Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, and the UAE rank among the highest in terms of out-of-school female children. This raises questions about the barriers preventing equal education despite economic development in these regions.
Key Challenges Behind the Education Gap
- Economic Hardships
- Many families in poverty-stricken regions prioritize boys’ education over girls’.
- Girls are often expected to help with domestic work or contribute financially through child labor.
- School fees, lack of resources, and additional costs (e.g., uniforms, transportation) make education unaffordable.
- Cultural and Social Barriers
- Deep-seated gender norms discourage female education in many societies.
- Early marriages prevent girls from continuing their schooling, trapping them in cycles of dependency.
- Parental concerns about safety and lack of female-friendly school environments further discourage enrollment.
- Infrastructure and Accessibility Issues
- Many rural communities lack schools within reasonable travel distances.
- Poor transportation options make it unsafe for girls to attend school, especially in remote or conflict-prone areas.
- Lack of basic facilities like separate restrooms for girls contributes to dropout rates.
- Conflict and Political Instability
- Wars and crises in countries like Syria and parts of Africa have displaced millions, disrupting educational systems.
- Refugee girls are among the most affected, with limited access to formal schooling.
- Weak Policy Enforcement
- Despite international agreements on education rights, many countries lack strict enforcement mechanisms.
- Governments often fail to prioritize investment in female education, leading to stagnation in literacy and empowerment efforts.
The Way Forward: Urgent Actions and Solutions
- Government and Policy Reforms
- Enforce free and compulsory education laws for both genders.
- Provide financial incentives for families to keep girls in school.
- Ensure school safety policies to protect girls from harassment and violence.
- Economic Support for Families
- Establish scholarship programs for low-income girls.
- Introduce conditional cash transfer programs, rewarding families for school attendance.
- Community Engagement & Cultural Shifts
- Conduct awareness campaigns challenging harmful gender norms.
- Involve local leaders and influencers to advocate for girls’ education.
- Infrastructure Development
- Build more accessible schools in rural areas.
- Improve transportation options and safety for school-going girls.
- Ensure availability of sanitation facilities to create a welcoming learning environment.
- Leveraging Technology
- Promote online learning programs for girls in remote areas.
- Distribute free digital learning materials through mobile and internet-based platforms.
- NGO and Private Sector Collaborations
- Encourage public-private partnerships to fund school projects.
- Work with international organizations to provide teacher training and quality resources.
Conclusion: A Shared Responsibility
The crisis of out-of-school female children is not just about education—it’s about economic progress, gender equality, and the future of societies. Without urgent action, millions of girls will continue to be deprived of opportunities, impacting generations to come.
However, change is possible. By investing in girls’ education, nations can break the cycle of poverty, empower future leaders, and build more resilient economies. Every girl deserves the chance to learn, grow, and achieve her full potential—because when we educate girls, we empower entire nations.
It is time to act. Let’s break the barriers together.