National Workshop on Economic
and Social Impact of Mobile Source Pollution
June 29, 1998
The distribution of pollutants across regions and their effects on economic activity have been the subject of many studies. Research indicates that pollutants produce a wide range of adverse effects on economic activity and public health.
In cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment and with support from the Harvard Institute of International Development (HIID), the LCPS held a one day workshop on "The Economic and Social Impacts of Mobile Source Pollution". Held on June 29, 1998, the workshop featured presentations of researchers who are currently under-going research on the effects of air pollution from mobile sources on public health. The team of researchers presented their preliminary findings on mobile source emissions of particulates and other pollutants, as well as present a health assessment and its relation to the levels of ambient air.
The workshop is part of a larger effort of HIID which is implementing the MedPolicies Initiative of the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP III). The goal of METAP III is to encourage sustainable economic growth through the integration of environmental concerns in economic and fiscal policy-making in 13 Mediterranean countries. The MedPolicies seeks to identify policies through the collaboration of researchers with relevant governmental agencies and other concerned individuals in each country.
Fiscal Decentralization in the Arab World
July 18 - 19, 1998
In collaboration with the Economic Development Institute (EDI) of the World Bank and partner organizations in the Arab world, the LCPS held a two-day workshop on Fiscal Decentratization in the Arab World.
Decentralization and the development of local government has become one of the main features of political development around the world in the past three decades. In the Arab world the experience with the modern state has been a very centralized one, however Arab countries have started to recognize the importance of local participation and have begun making efforts to accommodate the trend towards decentralization.
During the workshop preliminary results were presented to examine the level and conditions of decentralization in seven Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen. These countries historically present different profiles on the centralization/decentralization continuum. In the major river basins like those of Egypt or Mesopotamia, the tradition of strong centralization goes back for millennia. In countries like Morocco, for example, there has been a tradition of power-balancing between the central ruling authority and the outlying mountain regions for many centuries. In some countries like Lebanon and Yemen, decentralization has been a strong political fact that overshadowed the nation-state and threatened dismemberment or fragmentation several times over the past decades. The move into decentralization and local elections has been tentative, with some countries more successful than others. Elections in Morocco, Jordan and Lebanon, which were fairly legitimate, can be contrasted to elections in Egypt, which continue to draw considerable criticism. Nevertheless, decentralization and local government has become at least part of the stated policy of most Arab states
The workshop aimed at helping participants to reach a common understanding and common perspectives on the research underway and prepare for the final papers to be published in a book entitled "Fiscal Decentralization in the Arab World".
Workshop on the 1998 Municipal and Mayoral Elections in Lebanon
August 13 - 14, 1998
As part of an LCPS research project on local elections, the LCPS held a two-day workshop on the local elections which took place in May and June, 1998. The workshop was held at the AUB Alumni Club, where the team of researchers presented the preliminary findings of their research to a group of academics and politicians. The participants examined the political, social, and cultural conditions surrounding the elections.
The final research work and papers were published in a book entitled: The Lebanese Municipal Elections of 1998: The Travails of Democracy Within the Structures of Local Communities.
Conference on the Prospects
of the Judicial System in Lebanon
September 25 - 26, 1998
On September 25 and 26, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) held a two-day conference on the Prospects of the Judicial System in Lebanon. The conference was organized with the collaboration and support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The speakers at the conference included some of the most prominent judges in Lebanon. They addressed various aspects of the judicial system in post-war Lebanon.
The conference brought together over 50 high-ranking judges, principal lawyers, scholars, and government officials, including, Former Speaker of the Parliament, Mr. Hussein El-Husseini; and Deputies, Mr. Shaker Abu Suleiman and Mr. Zaher El-Khatib; and the Ambassador of Germany in Lebanon, Mr. Peter Wittig.
The conference received extensive media coverage. Media representatives were present throughout the conference and requested interviews with a number of participants. This immense interest in the Judicial affairs was largely reflected in numerous newspapers articles and TV and Radio programs about the conference Media coverage of the conference was an important vehicle to bring the problems and challenges of the Lebanese Judicial system to the forefront, and increase the public awareness about such an important sector. There was a consensus in the media on the necessity to keep the Judicial System free of political pressure.
The papers presented during the conference as well as the generated conference discussions were published in a book entitled: " The Lebanese Judiciary: State Building and Institutional Development."
Distributional Impact of Taxes in Lebanon
October 29, 1998
Professors A. Al-Dah, G. Dibeh, and W. Shahine presented a study on the Distributional Impact of Taxes at the Commodore Hotel on October 29th, 1998. The authors first presented the fiscal changes in Lebanon with a special focus on the tax developments. This was soon followed by the other countries' experiences in reforming their tax system. Against this background, the authors present their findings with respect to the distributional impact of direct and indirect taxes in Lebanon. Finally, a set of recommendations was presented.
Following their presentation, Ms. Abou Mosleh, on behalf of Mr. Ghaleb Abou-Mosleh, presented a critique on the study. This was followed with an open discussion and debate with the guests. The workshop was attended by high level government officials including the Advisor to the Minister of Finance; Head of the Institute of Finance; Head of Departments in the Central Bank; officials from the Center for Development and Reconstruction; economists and university professors from American University of Beirut, Lebanese University, and Harvard University; international organization such as ESCWA, UNDP; consulting firms such as CRI, MI Associates, and Chairman of al-Bouhous; secretary general of the Association of Banks, and the general manager of the RDCL.
The research study was published in April 1999.
Conferences index
Conference on the Fiscal
Adjustment to the Euro-Med Challenge
December 11, 1998
Held at the Commodore hotel, the conference participants included Dr. Nasser Saidi, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Mr. Peter Wittig; the German Ambassador, and Mr. Dimitris Kourkoulas; the Head of the European Union Delegation. The conference brought together representatives of the Swedish, French, and Italian embassies, public officials from the ministries of finance, economy and trade, foreign affairs, academics, international organization officials (UNDP, ESCWA), bankers, and media representatives.
LCPS plans to continue research on this topic, and will publish the proceedings of the workshop.