Spatial perspectives of increasing freeness of trade in Lebanon

• Published in: The Annals of regional science Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. 29 - 54
• Main Author: Haddad, Eduardo A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.08.2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Asia; Bgi / Prodig; Competition; Costs; Domestic; Domestic markets; Economic development; Economic theory; Economics; Economics and Finance; Environmental Economics; Equilibrium; Equilibrium models; Free trade; GDP; General economic equilibrium; Geography; Global economy; Globalization; Gross Domestic Product; International integration; International trade; Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning; Lebanon; Links; Microeconomics; Original Paper; Policies; Proposals; Reduction; Regional; Regional/Spatial Science; Regions; Southwest Asia; Spatial distribution; Studies; Territory; Lebanon; R13; R11; R15; Trade; Territorial planning; Regional policy; Equilibrium model; Regional integration
• ISSN: 0570-1864; 1432-0592
• DOI: 10.1007/s00168-014-0615-3

In this paper, we use an interregional computable general equilibrium model for Lebanon—the ARZ model—for the analysis of place-based policies in the country, in an attempt to bring additional insights to some of the proposals presented in the National Physical Master Plan of the Lebanese Territory. We apply the model to look at the ex ante potential regional implications of an increase in domestic and international integration of Lebanese regions through reductions in trade costs. The link between freeness of trade and the equilibrium distribution of activities is explored.