Towards a Sustainable Recovery for Lebanon’s Economy

Project Dates

March–June 2023

Since 2019, Lebanon has experienced one of the worst economic meltdowns in recent history. GDP has collapsed close to 40% in real terms, while the local currency has lost 98% of its value. The government defaulted on its external debt, and depositors have been unable to access their funds held at local banks. Public services have crumbled and poverty has become rampant.

Yet, four years later, a resolution remains elusive and each passing year compounds the economic and social hardships faced by the population.

As part of its research agenda on growth collapses, the Growth Lab assembled a world-class research team to assess the situation in all its dimensions, study the mechanics behind the crisis, and most importantly suggest a credible way out of the crisis.

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NEW REPORT

A Strategy for Lebanon’s Economic Recovery

In this report, we propose a strategy for Lebanon’s economic recovery that addresses all the dimensions of this crisis while recognizing the need to rapidly kick-start the economic recovery. The four-point plan involves: transitioning to a monetary system based on full dollarization; a bank restructuring plan to resolve the insolvency issue and revive the banking system; debt restructuring and gradual fiscal consolidation; and a strategy for new drivers of growth.

Lebanese Lira Currency being counted by a money counting machine

Videos

Webinars and Reports

Video

Webinar: A Sustainable Recovery for Lebanon’s Economy

In this webinar, Ugo Panizza and Ricardo Hausmann present the report’s key findings and recommended actions, while Nicolas Chammas and Nassib Ghobril offer their perspectives on the advantages and disadvantages […]

Video

Lebanon’s Economic Crisis and the path forward

In this short video, Ricardo Hausmann outlines our strategy for Lebanon’s recovery.

Tools

Atlas of Economic Complexity

Explore Lebanon’s Country Profile

Metroverse

Explore Lebanon’s Cities

In the News

Growth Lab

News

news

Harvard suggests entirely dollarizing Lebanese economy

December 1, 2023

Growth Lab research in L’Orient Today  On Wednesday, Harvard’s Growth Lab, a multi-disciplinary research department in the American university, published a report addressing the economic and financial crisis in Lebanon. […]
Growth Lab

News

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How to tackle Lebanon’s economic crisis

November 30, 2023

Ricardo Hausmann for the Financial Times With the tragic events unleashed by Hamas on October 7, and global focus on the region dominated by the subsequent conflict in Gaza, it […]
Growth Lab

News

news

Harvard report proposes comprehensive plan for Lebanon’s economic recovery

November 29, 2023

Researchers at the Growth Lab unveil a four-point plan to address Lebanon’s economic crisis  Cambridge, MA — Harvard’s Growth Lab has released a new report on Lebanon’s struggling economy that […]

Team Members

Ricardo Hausmann

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Ricardo Hausmann

Director

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Douglas Barrios

Director, Policy Research

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Clement Brenot

Senior Research Manager

Clemens Graf von Luckner

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Clemens Graf von Luckner

M-RCBG Fellow

Frank Muci headshot

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Frank Muci

Policy Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science

Head shot of Jesus Daboin Pacheco

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Jesús Daboin Pacheco

Research Fellow

Head shot of Ugo Panizza

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Ugo Panizza

Professor of International Economics, Geneva Graduate Institute

Carmen Reinhart

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Carmen M. Reinhart

Minos A. Zombanakis Professor of the International Financial System, HKS

Lucila Venturi

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Lucila Venturi

Research Fellow