Recent Workshops/Conferences
Institute of Financial Economics
Department of Economics
Center for Arab and Middle East Studies
Book Launch and Panel on
Democratic Transitions in the Arab World (Cambridge University Press, 2017)
PANEL PROGRAM
Welcome: Simon Neaime | American University of Beirut |
Moderator: Samir Makdisi
| American University of Beirut |
Speaker: Amaney Jamal | Princeton University |
Comment: Ibrahim Elbadawi
| Economic Research Forum, Cairo |
Comment: Noha El Mikawy
| Ford Foundation, Cairo |
Comment: Raed Safadi
| Dubai Department for Economic Development |
Open discussion |
Institute of Financial Economics and FEMISE Association:
150th Anniversary of the American University of Beirut
Workshop on: Unlocking the Potential of the Private Sector in South Med Countries
AUB, College Hall Auditorium B1, 5th December 2016
Context
A
dynamic private sector could make a real contribution towards achieving
inclusive development in the South Med region. So far, while the sector
provides more than half of the jobs in the region, its overall
contribution to economic growth is relatively modest compared to its
potential. Furthermore, the sector has been facing greater difficulties
in the wake of the uprisings of 2011 and the associated economic and
political instabilities. The challenges are at two levels:
- At
the macro level, the region suffers large macroeconomic imbalances and
sluggish economic growth. Rising budget and balance of payments
deficits are associated with large increases in government debts,
volatile exchange rates, soaring inflation rates, lowering credit
ratings, foreign investment outflows and declining international
reserves. This volatile environment is impeding the private sector from
achieving its potential and is calling for major interventions from
governments and central banks to stabilise the economy.
- At the
micro level, the sector faces a large number of obstacles: complex
administrative procedures and access to finance are on top of the list.
While SMEs have some of the lowest levels of usage of bank-loans
compared with other regions in the world (except sub-Saharan Africa),
start-ups face important impediments in accessing growth capital such as
angel finance and venture capital from more specialized investors.
Actions are needed to overcome such constraints and to support access to
finance.
Beside efforts by governments in the
region, the international community has provided support to the sector.
The EU alone has invested an average of 350 million per year in the last
decade, in addition to technical assistance. Other international
financial institutions have done the same. However, more still needs to
be done.
To this end, FEMISE and the Institute of financial
Economics of the American University of Beirut (AUB) are delighted to
organise this workshop on: “Unlocking the Potential of the
Private Sector in South Med Countries”, at the premises of the AUB,
Beirut on the 5th of December 2016. The workshop will gather
representatives from: research community, policy makers and financial
institutions, private sector and international donors, where a
constructive dialogue between the different parties will be established.
Content
The key question addressed in the workshop is: “What measures could be taken to unlock the potentials of the private sector in the South Med countries?”
To address this question, the speakers and participants in the workshop will cover three key areas:
- First,
an in-depth analysis of the macroeconomic environment, showing how the
current landscape has a negative impact on the development of the
private sector and discussing appropriate policy responses;
- Second,
an analysis of what are the obstacles facing the private sector more
broadly and SMEs in particular, including access to finance, and
exploring how the lessons from success stories could be transposed; and
- Third,
an assessment of the role of the international community towards the
development of a vibrant private sector and exploring new approaches.
Organization
The workshop will be organised over one day in three main sessions and one roundtable discussion session:
Session 1: Macroeconomic challenges in South Med will
address the main macroeconomic challenges of the South Med countries
and its impact on the private sector development. The session will
include a discussion between researchers and policy makers (e.g. central
banks representatives) on what potential economic reforms could be
envisaged;
Session 2: Private sector Development; obstacles and opportunities
will look into the challenges facing the Private Sector Development in
the south Med region including access to finance, identify what has been
done, what successful measures can be replicated and which
sectors/projects need to be supported and for which reasons;
Session 3: The Role for the International Community in Enhancing the Private Sector
will include some of the international community initiatives to support
this sector, including the EU (DG-NEAR), OECD and other institutions.
The workshop will close with a Roundtable discussion on the way forward for the private sector, which will entail a dialogue between the different parties.
AGENDA
8h45-9h00 | REGISTRATION |
9h00-9h30 | Welcome note and Opening Remarks
Ahmed Galal (FEMISE, ERF), Patricia Augier (FEMISE, IM), Simon Neaime (FEMISE, AUB) |
9h30-11h00 | Session 1: Macroeconomic challenges in South Med
Moderator: Ahmed Galal, FEMISE and ERF
Monetary Policy in Lebanon and Meeting the Debt
Challenges, Dr. Youssef El-Khalil, Director, Financial Operations
Department at the Central Bank of Lebanon
Monetary Policy in the
South Med Countries Post Recent Crises, with a focus on Tunisia and the
impact of the IMF program, Sami Mouley, Tunis El Manar
The
Role of the Central Banks in encouraging the private sector, the case of
Egypt, Dr. Ghada Abel Al-Hadi Kadil, Central Bank of Egypt Floor discussion (30 min) on how the Macro environment impacts the Private Sector development. |
11h00-11h30 | Coffee Break |
11h30-13h00 | : Session 2: Private Sector Development: Obstacles and Opportunities
Moderator: Patricia Augier, FEMISE and IM
An overview on the private sector development and how to move forward, P. Augier, FEMISE and IM
The status of regional initiatives to boost SMEs in South Med Med Countries. Marie-Jo Char, EBESM, GIZ
Overcoming
Constraints to SME Development in MENA Countries and Enhancing Access
to Finance, Qamar Saleem, Senior SME Banking Specialist MENA, IFC,
Jordan
Facilitating access to finance for SMEs in the Middle East and North Africa, SANAD (http://www.sanad.lu/home), Germany and Egypt
Overcoming
Constraints to SMEs in Lebanon by securing loans, Khater Abi Habib,
President and CEO of the SME loan guarantee finance company, Kafalat
Floor discussion (30min) on whether suggested measures are transferable and on which sectors to prioritize. |
13h00-14h30 | Lunch |
14h30-16h00 | Session 3: The Role for the International Community in Enhancing the Private Sector
Moderator: Samir Makdisi, AUB and FEMISE
EU initiative to enhance the private sector in South-MED countries, Ms
Ingrid Schwaiger (Deputy Head of Unit, Regional Programmes,
Neighbourhood South, DG NEAR) OR representative from the EC office in
Lebanon
Overcoming the Challenges to Enterprise Financing in the MENA Region, Alissa Koldertsova, MENA-OECD Investment Programme
Access to finance in the MENA region A multi-pronged approach, Estelle
Brack, Senior Advisor & Senior Economist at French Banking
Federation, Franc
What support is really needed from the international community to the private sector, Emmanuel Noutary, ANIMA
Floor discussion (30min) on whether suggested measures are transferable and on which sectors to prioritize
|
16h00-16h15 | Coffee Break |
16h15-17:30 | Session 4: Roundtable discussion and closing: Way forward for the Private sector
Moderator:
Raed Safadi, Chief Economic Advisor, Office of Director-General,
Department of Economic Development, Dubai Government.
Ahmed Galal, FEMISE, ERF Patricia Augier, FEMISE, IM Simon Neaime, AUB Khater Abi Habib, Kafalat, Lebanon EU Representative Emmanual Noutary, ANIMA
|
Institute of Financial Economics
THE LEBANSESE ECONOMETRIC STUDY GROUP
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
Workshop :2nd December 2016
American University of Beirut | Nicely Hall, Room 316 | IFE
1. Workshop Summary
08:45 - 09:00 | Welcome Remarks |
09:00 - 10:30 | Session 1 |
10:30 - 11:00 | Coffee Break/Morning Tea |
11:00 - 12:30
| Session 2 |
12:30 - 14:00 | Lunch |
14:00 - 15:30
| Session 3 |
15:30 - 16:00
| Coffee Break/Afternoon tea |
16:00 - 17:30 | Session 4 |
17:30 - 17:45 | Closing Remarks |
Detailed List of Sessions
08:45 - 09:00 | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Simon Neaime (American
University of Beirut), Leila Dagher (American University of Beirut),
and Lynda Khalaf (Carleton University) |
09:00 to 10:30 | Session 1:
- Exogeneity Tests and IV Estimation:
Is the Cure Worse Than the Illness? Jean-Marie Dufour (McGill
University) and Firmin Doko Tchatoka (University of Adelaide).
- Measurement
Error Without Exclusion: the Returns to College Selectivity and
Characteristics, Karim Chalak (University of Virginia) and Daniel Kim.
|
10:30 - 11:00 | Coffee Break/Morning Tea |
11:00 to 12:30 | Session 2:
- An Improved Bootstrap
Test for Restricted Stochastic Dominance, Thomas Lok (University of
Sydney), and Rami Tabri (University of Sydney).
- Reliable
Non-parametric Inference with Inequality Measures, Jean-Marie Dufour
(McGill University), Emmanuel Flachaire (Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS
& EHESS), Lynda Khalaf (Carleton University), and Abdallah Zalghout
(Carleton University).
|
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch | |
14:00 to 15:30 | Session 3:
- Adaptive Inference in
Semiparametric Multinomial Response Models, Shakeeb Khan (Boston
College/Duke University), F. Ouyang (Duke University), and Elie Tamer
(Harvard University).
- MCMC Confidence Sets for Identified Sets,
Xiaohong Chen (Yale University), Timothy M. Christensen (New York
University), and Elie Tamer (Harvard University).
|
15:30 - 16:00 | Coffee Break/Afternoon Tea |
16:00 to 17:30 | Session 4:
- Financial Exclusion and
Stability in MENA: Evidence from Poverty and Inequality, Simon Neaime
(American University of Beirut) and Isabelle Gaysset (American
University of Beirut).
- Monetary Policy Uncertainty, Positions of
Traders and Changes in Commodity Futures Prices, Nikolay Gospodinov
(Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta) and Ibrahim Jamali (American
University of Beirut).
|
17:30 - 17:45 | Closing Remarks |
Simon Neaime (AUB) and Elie Tamer (Harvard University).
Public Lectures and Workshops/Conferences
Public
lecture on "Consociational Ligrachies-The Difficult Choice Between
Democracy and Peace", Speaker Professor Daniel Bochsler, April 14, 2016,
IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture on "Consolidating
Democracy in Tunisia: the Economic Dimension", Speaker Dr. Mongi
Boughzala, November 26, 2015, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Celebrating
AUB's 150 Anniversay, the Institute of Financial Economics is organizing
a one day Panel Discussion on "Democratic Transitions in the Arab
Region: Aspirations and Realtiy", participants include academicians and
researcher from and outside AUB, November 27, 2015, College Hall,
Auditorium B1.
- Lecture on "Weak Beta, Strong Beta: Factor
Proliferation and Rank Restrictions", with J.M. Dufour and Marie Claude
Beaulieu, Speaker Dr. Lynda Khalaf, October 20, 2015, IFE, 316 Nicely
Hall.
- Workshop on "The Arab World In The Wake Of The Uprisings:
Transition to Democracy vs Regeneration of Autocracy", Participants
include academicians and researcher from and outside AUB, January 30
& 31, 2015, College Hall Auditorium B1.
- Lecture on
"Lebanon:Addressing the Destabilizing Impact of Regional Conflicts on
National Development" , Speaker Dr. Youssef El Khalil, October 23, 2014,
IFE, Nicely Hall 316.
- International Conference on
"Deconstructing Arab Transitions: Regional Overview and Case Studies",
Participants include academicians and researcher from and outside AUB,
November 8 & 9, 2013, West Hall Auditorium A.
- In
collaboration with the Center for the Study of Democracy at Westminster
University Workshop on" Rethinking the Arab Transition" ,the workshop
will deliberate three main topics: "Deconstructing Arab Transitions",
Consolidating Arab Democracies", and the "Unfolding Transitions in Egypt
and Tunisia". Participants include academicians and researcher from
AUB, Westminster University, Oxford University, Cairo University and Al
Manar University (Tunis), October 4, 2013, London
- In
collaboration with Issam Fares Institute for Public and International
Relations a Panel discussion held on “Will Lebanon Transit to a
fully-fledged Democracy? Economic and Political Perspectives”, Speakers:
Simon Neaime, Rami Khouri, Samir Makdisi, Fadia Kiwan, Youssef El
Khalil and George Corm, February 11, 2013, West Hall Auditorium B.
- Lecture
on “Financial Markets Uncertainty and the Argument for Central
Counterparty Clearing of Over-the-Counter Derivative”, Speaker Dr.
Steven McNamara, May 16, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- In
collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (Amman) a Workshop held on
“The Potential transition to democracy in the Arab Region: Underlying
Factors & Prospects”, Speakers Simon Neaime, Samir Makdisi, Ibrahim
Elbadawi, Martin Beck, Youssef Choueiri, Youssef El Khalil, Sari Hanafi,
Marcus Marktanner, Atif Kubursi and Ghassan Dibeh, May 04, 2012, West
Hall Auditorium B.
- Lecture on “Risk Intelligence: How expert
gamblers can teach us all to make better decisions”, Speaker Dr. Dylan
Evans, April 25, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture on “Metaethical Perspectives in Welfare Economics”, Speaker Dr. Ramzi Mabsout, April 18, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture
on “Regional Aspects of Competition in Lebanon: An Interregional CGE
Approach”, Speaker Dr. Eduardo Haddad, March 30, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely
Hall.
- Lecture on “Product Diversification and Exporter Sales:
Evidence from Jordan”, Speaker Dr. Jamal Ibrahim Haidar, March 28, 2012,
IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture on “Drivers of Securitization: A Bank Level Examination”, Speaker Dr. Ali Termos, March 21, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture
on “SBTC and the Minimum Wage: A Macroeconomic Analysis of Inequality”,
Speaker Dr. Darius Martin, March 14, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture on “The European Debt Crisis”, Speaker Dr. Simon Neaime, March 07, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture on “Structural Threshold Regression”, Speaker Dr. Thanasis Stengos, February 15, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture on “Globalization, Crisis-and What Next?”, Speaker Dr. Grezegorz Kolodko, February 2, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture on “Spurious Correlations Behaviors”, Speaker Dr. Christos Agiakloglou, January 11, 2012, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture
on “Factor Based Identification-Robust Inference in IV Regressions”,
Speaker Dr. Lynda Khalaf, December 21, 2011, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture
on “Poverty Assessment and Prospects of Development in Lebanon: The
Estimation of a Living Condition Indicator as a Substitute to Revenue”,
Speaker Dr. Sandra El-Saghir, December 07, 2011, IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Lecture
on “The Role of National Changes and Spatial Spillovers in State-Level
Okun’s Law”, Speaker Dr. Martin Montero, November 30, 2011, IFE, 316
Nicely Hall.
- Lecture on “The Greek Debt Crisis: Suggested
Solutions and Reforms”, Speaker Dr. Leo Michelis, November 23, 2012,
IFE, 316 Nicely Hall.
- Workshop with Konrad Adenauer Foundation
on "The Uprising in the Arab World: What Happened, What's Next?";
(Participants including academicians and experts from AUB, Lebanon and
Arab Countries), May 06, 2011, West Hall, Auditorium A.
- With the
Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and Interhnational Affairs,
Presenation and Discussion by Elena Lanchovichina (Senior Economist at
the world Bank) on "The major finding of the World Bank's latest report
on Economic Developments and Prospectives in the MENA region" March 29,
2011, IFE, Nicely Hall, 316.
- Lecture on "Doha Development
Agenda: Declared Objectives Vs Realities", Speaker: Dr. Raed Safadi,
February 23, 2011, West Hall, Auditorium B.
- Lecture on
"Transition to Democracy In Tunisia: Underlying Economic and Political
Factors", Speaker: Professor Mongi Boughzala, February 10, 2011, West
Hall, Auditorium B.
- Lecture on " Alternatives to Fama-McBeth
Estimation of Cross-Country Regressions Based Asset Pricing Models",
Speaker: Professor Lynda Khalaf, December 15, 2011, IFe, Nicely Hall,
316.
- Lecture on "Finance with a Focus on Dollar Debt: Evidence
from a Survery of Lebanese Firms", Speaker: Professor Nada Mora,
Novmeber 29, 2010, IFE, Nicely Hall, 316.
- Lecture on "The Role
of Telecommunications in Lebanon's Development" , Speaker: Dr. Charbel
Nahhas, April 12, 2010, West Hall, Auditorium B.
- Lecture on "Peer Effects, Fast Food and Obesity", Speaker: Dr. Myra Yazbek, , December 14, 2009, IFE, Nicely Hall, 316.
- Lecture
on "Capital Inflows and Monetary Policy in Lebanon", Speaker: Dr. Yusuf
Khalil, Central Bank, November 16, 2009, IFE , Nicely Hall, 316.
- Lecture on "Modeling Oil Prices ", Speaker: Dr. Lynda Khalaf, November 2, 2009, IFE, Nicely Hall, 316.
- Lecture on "The Prospects and Risks for the World Economy", Speaker: Mr. Masood Ahmed,, April, 2, 2009, West Hall, Auditorium B.
- Dissemination
conference on the major findings of the project on "Democracy and
Development in the Arab World" - October 24 -25, 2008, College Hall B1.
- Lecture
on " The Causes of Institutional Inefficiency: A Development
Perspective ", Speaker: Professor Jean-Philippe Platteau, October 23,
2008, West Hall, 204.
- Lecture on " Prospects for Reform in Egypt ". Speaker: Professor Saad Eddine Ibrahim, May 2, 2008,IFE, Nicely Hall, 316.
- Lecture
on "Monetary Policy Transmission and Targeting Mechanisms in the MENA
Region" . Speaker: Professor Simon Neaime, March 18, 2008, IFE, Nicely
Hall, 316.
- Workshop on "Democracy and Development in Lebanon:
Trapped by Consociationalism?" ; Speaker : Professor Marcus Marktanner;
introductory remarks by Professor Samir Makdisi, February 19, 2008, IFE,
Nicely Hall 316.
- The Institute of Financial Economics held a
workshop to review ongoing research pertaining to the Arab case studies
under the research project "Democracy and Development in the Arab World"
; June 14-15, 2007, at College Hall - B1.
- The Institute of
Financial Economics and the Department of Economics held a lecture By
Dr. George Corm on "Lebanon's Public Debt: An Alternative Development
Model" : May 21, 2007, at College Hall - B1.
- The Institute of
Financial Economics and the Department of Economics in Collaboration
with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International
Affairs held a Seminar on " The Challenges of Development and Democracy
in Lebanon" ; April 13, 2007, at College Hall - B1. The speakers :
- Democracy and Development in Lebanon: Introductory Remarks, S. Makdisi (AUB).
- Lebanon's Economic Development: An Overview, S. Neaime (AUB).
- Lebanon's Democracy Status: Positive and Negative Influences, M. Marktanner (AUB).
- Lebanon's "Consociational" Democracy: Theory and Practice, F. Kiwan (USG).
- Facing the Challenges: Institutional Development - Open discussion.
- The
Institute of Financial Economics in Collaboration with the Dubai School
of Government (DSG) held a workshop on "Democracy and Development in
the Arab world" ; Feb. 23-24, 2007, at the DSG, Dubai. The purpose of
the workshop was to review on-going research pertaining to 8 Arab case
studies included in the project.
- Lecture by Dr. Ugo Panizza,
Chief of the Debt and Finance Analysis Unit in the Debt and Development
Finance Branch of UNCTAD, "How to Reduce the Risks of Public Debt in
Emerging Countries" ; Feb. 12, 2007, 316 Nicely .
- Lecture by
Mr. Megerditch Bouldokian, Bank of Beirut, former V/Governor, Bank of
Lebanon, "International Banking: The Management of Correspondent
Banking" ; May 8, 2006 .
- Lecture by Dr. Fadi Osseiran, Head of the BLOM Investment Bank, "Investment Banking: Issues and Policies" ; April 4, 2006.
- Lecture
by Dr. Ali Abdel Gadir Ali, Deputy Director, Arab Planning Institute,
Kuwait, "Rediscovering Relevant Development Policy" ; March 23, 2006.
- Lecture
by Dr. Imad Itani, Deputy General Manager, Bank Audi, Audi-Saradar
Group, "Portfolio Management Issues in Lebanon" ; March 13, 2006.
- Lecture
by Dr. Mohammad Baasiri, Special Investigation Commission Secretary and
MENA Financial Action Task Force President at the Banque du Liban ,
Combating Money Laundering: Issues and Challenges" ;February 7, 2006.
- Lecture
by Dr. Jane Harrigan, Chair, Economic Department, School of Oriental
and African Studies, University of London, " The Political and Economic
Determinants of IMF and World Bank Lending in the MENA Region ", January
4, 2006.
- Lecture by Dr. Jihad Azour, Minister of Finance, " Prospective Economic Reform In Lebanon ", Nov. 8, 2005.
- Lecture
by Professor James Rauch, University of California at San Diego, "
Neckties in the Tropics: A Model of International Trade and Cultural
Diversity ", March 11, 2005.
- Lecture by Professor James Rauch, University of California at San Diego, " Arab Human Development in Comparative Perspective" , May 19, 2005.
- Lecture
by Dr. Zeki Fattah, Advisor on Middle East Economic Development Issues,
Former Head, Economic Development Program, UN ESCWA, on : "The Global
Industrial Scene and the Arab Countries" , May 11, 2005.
- Lecture
by Professor Atif Kubursi, McMaster University, Canada, " Oil and Water
Never Mix Except in the Middle East ", December 20, 2004.
- Lecture
by Dr. Ibrahim Elbadawi, World Bank, Washington D.C., " Macroeconomic
Framework for Poverty Reduction and Peace - Building with Reference to
Post conflict Sudan ", December 17, 2004.
- Lecture by Dr. Jihad Azour, Ministry of Finance, " Macroeconomics Management and Public Debt in Lebanon ", December 7, 2004.
- Lecture
by Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Mr. Riad Salame, " Monetary
Policy in Lebanon: Future Perspectives ", December 6, 2004.
Past Public Lectures and Workshops