February 2019

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February 2019, N°16
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Here’s How We Made a Lasting Impact in February 2019

LIMS Released the 2018 Activity Report

With 155% debt to GDP and economic spillovers from the war in Syria, Lebanon is expected to enter a recession in 2019 and a Greek-style default on sovereign debt in 2020. Today, political leaders in Lebanon have the choice between making a hard transition into a more sustainable economic model or let the country collapse and then trade blame. LIMS’ priority is to assist decision makers to put in place the needed institutional reforms that would curtail government spending and restore economic freedom. Those tools constitute together a Shield against the Default of Lebanon.

1. Electricity Campaign: In 2018, LIMS managed to save $2.4 billion of government spending on electricity. Those savings gave the treasury department a vital breathing space and...
Click here to read and download full LIMS - 2018 activity report.

Spending More on Electricity Sector Will Not Bring Necessary Reform
February 19, 2019 - Interview with VDL Radio Station, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon is witnessing an increase in electricity rationing due to the lack of necessary funds to pay for the fuel-powering, state-owned electricity company, Electricité Du Liban (EDL). In a radio interview, Dr. Patrick Mardini argued that the reform plan should be aimed at reducing the losses incurred by EDL. He explained that “the state treasury cannot pay for the fuel, let alone the rented power ships, and the cost of investment in new power plants.” Dr Mardini stressed on the importance of opening the sector for competition to allow private companies to invest in electricity, buy the fuel themselves and ensure a reliable and steady supply.

Privatizing Electricity Sector Could Help Light Up Lebanon

In the same radio interview, the former investment manager of EDL, Mr. Ghassan Baydoun, stated that the solution for the electricity problem in Lebanon resides in the privatization of production. He clarified that “the public sector cannot pursue running the system in the same way, with the huge deficit, when all the world’s nations are heading towards relying on the private sector.”

Click Here to Watch the Interview in Arabic

Education Choice Solves the Tuition Problem
February 27, 2019 – An-Nahar Newspaper, Beirut, Lebanon

In an unfortunate tragedy, a father in the north of Lebanon set himself on fire to protest his inability to pay his daughter’s private school tuition. Civil society groups, labor unions, and teachers’ unions reacted to the incident by blaming private schools for their high prices. They asked the government to increase funding for public schools in order to attract more students. According to LIMS’ Policy Analyst Ms. Eliane Al Badawy, “supporting public schools does not solve the problem since they show low performance despite their high costs.” A better option would be to help parents transferring their children in the other direction, from public to private schools, through a voucher system for instance.

Click Here to Read the Article in Arabic

LIMS Leaders' Academy - LLA 2019 Edition

LLA101: Connect to Prosperity
April 10 until June 1, 2019 - Webinar
LLA201: Economic Foundations of a Free & Prosperous Lebanon
June 15 - 16, 2019 - Workshop in Beirut
LLA301: Shaping Public Policy
July 20 - 21, 2019 - Workshop in Beirut
LLA401: Policy Fair
Date TBA - Event
LLA Graduation Ceremony
Date TBA - Gala Dinner

Interested? Click here now and Book your seat!

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