In this episode of “Dakikat Ektisad,” Dr. Mohammad Farida explains alternative ways to increase Lebanese state revenues without raising taxes on citizens, ranging from combating customs evasion to regulating quarries and sand pits and reviewing tax exemptions. The discussion examines possible economic solutions and the impact of taxation on investment and economic incentives in Lebanon.
The video discusses the 2027 draft budget amid significant disparities in public-sector salaries, which range from $300–400 to as much as $17,000–18,000, while the Finance Minister has stated that “citizens are the ones who pay taxes everywhere in the world.”
Dr. Farida challenges this argument, pointing out that in most countries around the world, large corporations account for around 30% of tax revenues, rather than the burden falling solely on citizens.
He proposes several areas through which the state could raise additional revenue without increasing the burden on the public — such as VAT or fuel taxes — including:
- Regulating and holding accountable quarries and sand pits, as well as public maritime and riverine properties.
- Combating customs and tax evasion.
- Imposing taxes on vacant buildings and capital gains.
- Reducing or eliminating exemptions granted to religious institutions and fictitious associations that drain state revenues.
