The Difference Between Reports And Reality

A must read piece by Michael Karam:

Barclays Capital, in its recent country report […] trots out the monotonous and, to be honest, by now very tired assessment that “growth in various sectors, including construction, tourism, trade and financial services has been solid, while the sustained rapid expansion of credit to the private sector is supporting sectoral activity”. […]

But

the reality is that most people are struggling to get by. I went to wash my hands on Monday afternoon and to find we had no water. I am not trying to show off when I say I live in Beirut’s equivalent of Kensington or Manhattan. I merely want to highlight that Lebanon is no better than Kinshasa when it comes to basic utilities.

The quotes I have here are no substitute at all for the entire article. You have to read it all if only because this is one of the most talked about topics in intellectual and business circles in Lebanon.