Priority Reforms for the Government of Lebanon

World Bank

Washington, DC

关键词: MACROECONOMICS;    POLITICS;    REFORMS;    DEVELOPMENT;    FINANCE;   

RP-ID  :  116428

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This Policy Paper presents a menu ofreforms that would enable the country to rapidly andsignificantly turn the page of inaction and decline andreturn the country to a prosperous and inclusive developmentpath. To that end, reforms are prioritized over two timehorizons—the first 100 days of the new Government and themedium term. The immediate set of reforms suggested aim atestablishing a record of achievements and governmentcredibility that is currently sorely absent; without such aclear statement, policymaking effectiveness will be limited.They will also set the platform for the medium term. Failingto move swiftly on reforms would not only damage thecredibility of this government, diminish its chances ofsuccess during the upcoming elections, but would alsoincrease the already high level of skepticism that theLebanese people and the international community harbor whenit comes to Lebanon's capacity to take on serious andtransformational changes. In short, and contrary to somewishes, the international community's engagement andcommitment to help Lebanon will hinge heavily on Lebanonhelping itself. The seeming end of a long politicalstalemate offers Lebanon a unique window of opportunity tomitigate impending risks and tackle longstanding and, bynow, pressing development challenges. This sense of urgencyis reinforced by a palpable deterioration in the quality ofpublic services, institutions, governance and the businessclimate, to name a few. Macroeconomic risks andinstitutional lethargy, have also been compounded by theSyrian war, taking a toll on the economy, which, even priorto the regional turmoil, exhibited significant shortfalls inthe provision of more and better jobs. Furthermore, theinflux of displaced persons from Syria (estimated at overone million by UNHCR as of September 2016) has placed addedstrain on Lebanon’s education, health, municipal and othersectors, while exacerbating already notable subnationalinequalities. This Policy Paper presents a menu of reformsthat would enable the country to rapidly and significantlyturn the page of inaction and decline and return the countryto a prosperous and inclusive development path. To that end,reforms are prioritized over two time horizons—the first 100days of the new Government and the medium term. Theimmediate set of reforms suggested aim at establishing arecord of achievements and government credibility that iscurrently sorely absent; without such a clear statement,policymaking effectiveness will be limited. They will alsoset the platform for the medium term. Failing to moveswiftly on reforms would not only damage the credibility ofthis government, diminish its chances of success during theupcoming elections, but would also increase the already highlevel of skepticism that the Lebanese people and theinternational community harbor when it comes toLebanon's capacity to take on serious andtransformational changes. In short, and contrary to somewishes, the international community's engagement andcommitment to help Lebanon will hinge heavily on Lebanonhelping itself.