Government instability, poor infrastructure and corruption were among the reasons Lebanon was considered one of the worst performers in Global Competitiveness Index. GCI gave Lebanon a total score of 3.8 out of 7 which is deemed very low compared to most countries around the world.
According to the index, Lebanon was ranked 101 among 140 countries and attributed this negative ranking to several factors, such as government instability/coups which took a 16.3 score, inadequate supply of infrastructure with a 15.6 score, inefficient government bureaucracy with a score of 14.4, policy instability with a 11.1 score, and corruption with a score of 9.6.
Basic requirements such as institutions, infrastructure, macroeconomic environment, health and primary education took a score of 3.7 out of 7, further showing that Lebanon failed to make any improvement in the categories above.
All the tables and charts also showed poor scores in almost every economic and social aspect, raising questions about the economic policies adopted by all successive governments since the Taif Accord.
Lebanese politicians also received a real hammering as the GCI ranked Lebanon 127 among 140 countries in terms of public trust in politicians.
Lebanon was also ranked 139 out of 140 countries in terms of wastefulness of government spending.
In terms of intellectual property protection, Lebanon ranked 122 among 140 states.
The poor infrastructure also received extensive coverage in the report as Lebanon ranked 138 among 140 countries.
This was only a small sample of the poor quality of public services in Lebanon and the study reflects the deep concern of civil society and NGOs who staged several protests over the past three months near government buildings to express their indignation over the widespread corruption in most public departments.
Lawmaker and businessman Robert Fadel said in a statement Wednesday that this report demonstrates the failure of the political class to make any significant accomplishment. “This study is a serious warning at a time when public trust in politicians and quality of public services reached its lowest point,” he added.
He stressed that what is more serious is that Lebanon was also ranked 139 out of 140 countries in terms of wastefulness of government spending.
But Fadel noted that the GCI ranked Lebanon 42 out of 140 in terms of venture capital availability and this is considered a great accomplishment for Lebanon and a reward for the continuous efforts of Bader group and other similar groups that are active in enhancing business opportunities in Lebanon.
In 2010, Lebanon ranked 92 out of 139 countries in Global Competitiveness Index.
Bader group and InfoPro took part in the annual survey in Lebanon for the 2015 report.
