Jad Chaaban is a Lebanese economist and an associate professor of economics at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Chaaban, who also describes himself as a social activist, views his research and advocacy as focused “on using evidence-based economics analysis to enhance the well-being of the most vulnerable groups in society.” He has served as an economic policy advisor to various Lebanese ministries and public agencies. Prior to joining AUB in September 2006, he was an economist in the World Bank’s Middle East regional office, where he did research related to poverty reduction and economic management in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. Diwan met with Chaaban to discuss the condition of Lebanon’s economy, at a time when the country’s economic health is high in the preoccupations of many Lebanese.
Carnegie Middle East Center
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This is the same person who wrote the following article last week, http://beirut-today.com/2017/10/09/lebanon-not-going-bankrupt-anytime-soon-lets-stop-pointless-bashing/, bashing "self-proclaimed economists" who were published on this site here: http://carnegie-mec.org/diwan/73280. His article claims many of the same things the economists in this article do, but his point is that we shouldn't talk about it because it may endanger our remittances and foreign investments. He's no better than members of the ruling class who exploit the glitz and blitz of Lebanon at the expense of the majority of the population to keep the truth out of view. Why give this self-proclaimed economist air time?
Does healthy and constructive criticism justify your demand to forbid this economist and others from voicing their concerns and starting constructive debates? Using terms like edging towards collapse or bankruptcy should not be taken lightly. Are we really sure that the economy is going collapse tomorrow? Have we just acquired the superpower of predicting economic crises and Black Swans? If so, are we prepared to face the consequences of instilling such terror in people’s minds and causing events such as bank runs? Even David Butter who is featured in the Carnegie article refutes the use of such language and states “The Lebanese economy is far from healthy, but it’s not on the brink of bankruptcy.” Finally, how can an economist who repeatedly calls out the government on their corrupt behavior, brilliantly links politicians to the banking sector to explain growing public debt, is part of a group of people who for the first time in decades challenge the ruling class in municipal elections, be accused of being “no better than members of the ruling class who exploit the glitz and blitz of Lebanon at the expense of the majority of the population to keep the truth out of view.”
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