Joe Issa El Khoury's guest appearances

Joe Issa El Khoury

populyst

Jesse Eisinger

Aaron Renn

Michele Wucker

Sal Gilbertie

Alejandro Echeverri

Andrew Stuttaford

Axel Gyldén

OwlTail

Sami J. Karam speaks with Joe Issa El Khoury, a Beirut-based financier, about the tragic events that have unfolded in Lebanon since 2019. Issa El Khoury explains the sequence of events that led to the present, and offers a possible way forward.0:00 Introduction of Joe Issa El Khoury2:25 What is it like right now on the ground in Beirut?8:33  Why did Lebanon have a golden period in 1945-75; why was it later so prone to crisis?17:40 The Rafik Hariri era and the return of growth 1990-200520:00 What explains the weakness of the Lebanese state: geography and demographics26:30 Lebanon's diversity as a source of wealth; Example of Lebanese cuisine30:40 Crossing the line from a laissez-faire economy to a crony economy35:05 The real estate boom of 2007-1136:55 The impact of the Syrian civil war39:10 Crowding out the private sector44:10 The proximate factors that led to the meltdown46:15 The current condition of the banking sector; Role of the Central Bank51:00 Will depositors suffer a haircut? The Lazard and other plans54:45 Talk of privatization of state assets59:45 Political patronage in the public sector1:01:50 "All roads lead to Washington DC and the acronym IMF"1:05:20 Political reform and the role of the diaspora

Sami J. Karam speaks with Joe Issa El Khoury, a Beirut-based financier, about the tragic events that have unfolded in Lebanon since 2019. Issa El Khoury explains the sequence of events that led to the present, and offers a possible way forward. 0:00 Introduction of Joe Issa El Khoury 2:25 What is it like right now on the ground in Beirut? 8:33 Why did Lebanon have a golden period in 1945-75; why was it later so prone to crisis? 17:40 The Rafik Hariri era and the return of growth 1990-2005 20:00 What explains the weakness of the Lebanese state: geography and demographics 26:30 Lebanon's diversity as a source of wealth; Example of Lebanese cuisine 30:40 Crossing the line from a laissez-faire economy to a crony economy 35:05 The real estate boom of 2007-11 36:55 The impact of the Syrian civil war 39:10 Crowding out the private sector 44:10 The proximate factors that led to the meltdown 46:15 The current condition of the banking sector; Role of the Central Bank 51:00 Will depositors suffer a haircut? The Lazard and other plans 54:45 Talk of privatization of state assets 59:45 Political patronage in the public sector 1:01:50 "All roads lead to Washington DC and the acronym IMF" 1:05:20 Political reform and the role of the diaspora

Lebanon in Crisis, With Joe Issa El Khoury, 10 April 2021