In the last decade, many aspects of globalization have captured worldwide attention. But for more than a century, the driving force behind globalization has been the expansion of trade in goods and services . Trade liberalization is of major concern for developing countries following protectionist policies, since they are more vulnerable to total openness. The rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which was established in 1995, are based on the principles of free trade. These rules promote trade liberalization policies; this is why acceding to this international organization is of great ...

Infrastructure privatization is initiated through various modes by different countries and can generally include the construction of new privately owned facilities, privatization of existing facilities, concessions or leases, and project financing. B.O.T. [Build-Operate- Transfer] means the government grants investment enterprises an operational concession for a period, permits them to construct and administrate certain public infrastructures by financing, and authorizes them to pay off loans, reclaim investment and make a profit through charging from users or selling products. At the expiration ...

Despite the significant presence of foreign nationals in Lebanon, their experiences and challenges, particularly during times of crisis have been under-researched. The ongoing instability in the Levant since 2023, marked by a significant escalation in violence with the cross-border conflict with Israel that began on 8 October 2023, has further exposed their vulnerabilities. The Lebanese Emigration Research Center (LERC) is launching this series of factsheets to address the challenges faced by foreign nationals during these crises. These factsheets aim to inform policymakers, researchers, ...

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