Jallad, Mayssa; Zaher, Rahaf; Mintchev, Nikolay; (2024) Livelihood Strategies in Ras Beirut After 2019: Making Ends Meet in Times of Economic Disaster. UCL Institute for Global Prosperity: London, UK.

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Preview	Text (Arabic translation (استراتيجيات سبل العيش في رأس بيروت بعد 2019: تلبية الاحتياجات المعيشيّة في خضمّ الأزمة الاقتصاديّة)) PROCOL Lebanon Bulletin oct 2024 _ ARABIC.pdf Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

This paper presents quantitative and qualitative findings on how individuals in Ras Beirut, Lebanon, are navigating the severe challenges stemming from the economic crisis and the dramatic devaluation of the Lebanese Lira since 2019. Amid skyrocketing inflation and critical disruptions to essential service provision, such as electricity and healthcare, residents faced unprecedented hardships exacerbated by informal capital controls imposed by commercial banks. Drawing on quantitative surveys, ethnographic essays, and interviews conducted between 2021 and 2022 in Ras Beirut, the study explores how people manoeuvre the economic crisis by investigating the coping strategies employed by residents to make ends meet. The findings underscore the pervasive impact of the economic collapse on livelihoods, with high unemployment rates, diminished purchasing power, and inadequate social protections compounding the crisis. The study further highlights that residents employ 3 major categories of coping strategies: I) lifestyle changes, II) increased reliance on networks, and III) increased reliance on institutions. It also emphasises that although these strategies are essential to maintaining the livelihoods of many, they have an immense physical, emotional, and social toll. Additionally, the paper sheds light on the experiences of disillusionment among the population and underscores the need for policy responses that consider livelihood accounts and prioritise inclusive economic recovery, social protections, and meaningful employment opportunities. By amplifying the voices and experiences of individuals affected by the crisis, this research contributes to evidence-based policymaking aimed at addressing the multifaceted challenges and fostering a just and sustainable recovery in Lebanon. Ultimately, the paper argues for a holistic approach to recovery that transcends economic metrics to prioritise the well-being and dignity of all members of society.

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