The International Monetary Fund released a statement on its 2019 Article IV consultations with Lebanon on October 17, the same day protests erupted in what became known as al-thawra — “The Revolution.” The statement called for a fiscal adjustment to reduce a government deficit and $88 billion public debt, at around 150% of GDP, the world’s third-largest. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) advised “fundamental structural reforms,” including reducing “vulnerability to ...