What:    The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is launching the Survey of Economic and Social Development in the Arab Region 2017-2018 focused on exchange rate policies.
 
When:             Monday 17 December at 11:00am
 
Where:            ESCWA Headquarters, Riad el-Solh Square, Beirut, Lebanon
 
Why:      This year, the Survey examines the choice of exchange-rate regime, a topic that has been at the centre of a theoretical and policy debate over several decades. The complexity of factors influencing the choice of exchange-rate regime varies from country to country, which is why no clear consensus has emerged.
 
While a large body of literature argues that flexible exchange rate policies contribute to productivity improvements and thus promote economic growth, the 2017-2018 Survey shows that fixed exchange-rate regimes, despite substantial misalignments, have a positive impact on growth in the Arab region.
 
As in previous editions, the 2017-2018 edition of the Survey advocates taking into consideration the special context of the region when designing fiscal, social and monetary policies. What works in other countries may not work in the Arab States context. Conflicts, uncertainty, weak financial and legal institutions and high dependency on primary commodities exports have created specific challenges that policymakers, with the help of international organizations including ESCWA, must consider.
 
Who:    

• Acting Executive Secretary of ESCWA Mounir Tabet
• Director of ESCWA Economic and Development Integration Division Mohamed El Hacene
• Authors of the survey

The press briefing will be moderated by Lebanese economic media specialist Violette Ghazal Balaa.
 
The ESCWA Communication and Information Unit (ECIU) kindly asks media representatives wishing to cover these meetings to confirm their attendance at +96170008879 or +96170827372.
 

For more information:
 
Mr. Nabil Abu-Dargham, Head of the ESCWA Communication and Information Unit:
+961-70-99 31 44; dargham@un.org  
Ms. Rania Harb: +961-70-00 88 79;  harb1@un.org
Ms. Mirna Mahfouz: +961-70-87 23 72; mahfouz@un.org