Lebanon PDF
Lebanon PDF
Lebanon PDF
France in 1943 and was a trading and international banking 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010
center until its disastrous 1975–1990 civil war. Syria, which
intervened ostensibly to halt the civil war, established hege- Quick Facts
mony over the country. In 2005, Syria was forced to withdraw Population: 4.1 million
its army after its government was implicated in the assas- GDP (PPP): $47.9 billion
sination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. 8.0% growth in 2008
Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s economic reform efforts were 4.8% 5-year compound
set back by the Hezbollah-instigated conflict with Israel in annual growth
2006 and subsequently by tensions between the government $11,570 per capita
and Hezbollah and other factions supported by Syria and Unemployment: 9.2% (2007)
Iran. A May 2008 agreement brokered by the government of
Inflation (CPI): 10.8%
Qatar installed Michel Suleiman, former head of the army,
as president. Rafiq Hariri’s son, Saad Hariri, was elected FDI Inflow: $3.6 billion
prime minister in June 2009. 2008 data unless otherwise noted
Data compiled as of September 2009
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lebanon’s Ten Economic Freedoms government, and foreign investment is restricted in the
Business Freedom 56.6 real estate, insurance, media, and banking sectors. The
Trade Freedom 80.5 passage of several laws to promote investment has led
Fiscal Freedom 91.6 to some progress, but red tape and corruption, arbitrary
Government Spending 62.8 licensing decisions, dated legislation, an ineffectual judi-
Monetary Freedom 71.4
cial system, arbitrary and non-transparent interpretation
Investment Freedom 55.0
Financial Freedom 60.0 of laws, political instability, and other security concerns
Property Rights 30.0 continue to serve as impediments. Residents and non-res-
Fdm. from Corruption 30.0 idents may hold foreign exchange accounts, money market
Labor Freedom 57.0 instruments, and derivatives. There are no restrictions on
0 50 100 payments and transfers. Foreign investors may own land,
0
least free20 40 60 80 100
most free
= world average subject to a number of restrictions.