11-11-2008J. Chaaban The Need for Good Governance Reform Jad Chaaban Lebanese Economic Association Strengthening Private Sector Resilience under Conflict:

11-11-2008J. Chaaban The Need for Good Governance Reform Jad Chaaban Lebanese Economic Association Strengthening Private Sector Resilience under Conflict: Lessons Learned and the Way Forward 11-12 November 2008

11-11-2008J. Chaaban Main messages Impediments to smooth business operations are pervasive in the Arab countries This talk will focus on Governance as related to corruption: Bribes to get things done are a widespread phenomenon Bribing can be the result of a self-enforcing mechanism, where the Government has little room to intervene Corruption as greasing the wheel Public sector wages and corporate taxes play an important role in limiting bribery Institutional reform should be implemented to increase the efficiency of the public sector and strengthen private sector resilience

11-11-2008J. Chaaban Reform in business regulations is good for job creation Source: World Bank Investment Climate Assessment, 2006 Following reforms to improve business registration: - Business registration went up by 18.8% from 1998 to 2004 in Pakistan; - Business entry increased by 28% in Vietnam; - Georgia reduced the minimum capital required to start a new business from 2,000 lari to 200 ($85). Business registrations rose by 20% between 2005 and 2006.

11-11-2008J. Chaaban Growth and improved economic performance reduce the risk of civil war Source: Collier and Hoeffler, 2002.

11-11-2008J. Chaaban Corruption is everywhere: 'hongbao' in China 'baksheesh' in Arab countries 'matabiche' in central Africa 'propina' in Latin America, 'pots de vin' in France 'mazzetta' in Italy or just plain bribery. On average, 35% of firms in developing countries pay bribes to get things done As high as 50% in Lebanon and 75% in Algeria Business regulations impose a high burden on companies, and this exacerbates the negative impact of conflict

11-11-2008J. Chaaban IraqLebanonPalestine Middle East & North AfricaOECD Ease of Doing Business Rank 14185117.. Enforcing Contracts Procedures (number) 51374442.531.3 Time (days) 520721700659.3443.3 Cost (% of debt) 32.530.821.223.717.7 Closing a Business Time (years) no practice4 3.71.3 Cost (% of estate) no practice22no practice13.97.5 Recovery rate (cents on the dollar) 019.1025.874.1 Doing business legislation in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine is highly inefficient with regards to investment under uncertainty Source: World Bank Doing Business Database

11-11-2008J. Chaaban Source: World Bank Investment Climate Assessment, 2006

11-11-2008J. Chaaban CountriesNumber of procedures Delay in days Cost (%income) Minimum capital required (%income) Corruption index Egypt1022105740-0.4 Iraq11773732-1.3 Jordan1118861,0120.3 Kuwait133521340.8 Lebanon64612369-0.4 Oman9345970.7 Saudi Arabia1364691,2370.2 Sudan1039680-1.4 Syria1243355,112-0.6 Tunisia101110300.1 Palestine121062441,410-1.1 United Arab Emirates1263444171.1 Yemen12632402,703-0.6 Arab mean114882999-0.2 World mean104769194-0.1 OECD7207411.9 Canada230.601.9 Source: World Bank Doing Business and Governance databases, 2005

11-11-2008J. Chaaban

11-11-2008J. Chaaban It seems that firms prefer to: Evade taxes: thus low revenues to finance public sector reforms Pay bribes: poor entrepreneurs who cannot afford paying bribes are excluded Sales amount reported by a typical firm for tax purposes (%) Parallel market for business registration transactions Solutions: Streamlining of procedures Incentive pay for public servants Higher income taxes on firms: more accountability

11-11-2008J. Chaaban

Liquidation/ exit Establishment or incorporation Ongoing operations Establishment of a business should be inexpensive and the process kept at a minimum. Minimum capital requirements should be at a minimum Compliance should be straightforward and inexpensive. Labor law should not discourage hiring of foreign personnel Customs formalities inexpensive and speedy Liquidation cost at a minimum. Voluntary liquidation should be a speedy matter. Provide financial instruments to help firms in times of crisis Recommendations

11-10-2008J. Chaaban Thank you [email protected]

11-11-2008J. Chaaban The Need for Good Governance Reform Jad Chaaban Lebanese Economic Association Strengthening Private Sector Resilience under Conflict:

Documents

chaaban slide

chaaban source

business database slide

chaaban corruption

business legislation

business rank

new business

chaaban reform