MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES IN LEBANON

were established after the year 1990, which is the year that marked the end of the 15-year civil strifein the country, and which resulted in high expectations in the economic future of the country, as wellas expected regrouping of the population due to the returnee process.The date of establishment of surveyed MSEs was found to vary according to size (in terms ofemployees), the sector of activity, gender, and geographic location. In fact, it appears that smallerenterprises are younger; work in trade, hotels and restaurants; and are female-run.Age and size of MSEsThe enterprises’ date of establishment differs according to size. It is noted that a higher number ofmicro enterprises were established after 2000 (35% of one-person enterprises and 38% of enterpriseswith 2-4 workers were established after the year 2000, compared to 18% of those employing 10-49workers established in the same period). It is also noted that a higher percentage of larger enterprises(10-49 employees) covered by the survey were established 10-15 years ago, whereas smallerenterprises are younger (61% of one-person enterprises and 45% of enterprises with 10-49 employees,were established after 1995).Age and sector of activity of MSEsThe date of establishment of enterprises also differs based on the sector of activity. What is obvious inthis context is that industrial enterprises have the most uniform distribution as per the starting date,with the period 1980-1984 witnessing the least number of established enterprises. It is also noted thata higher percentage of enterprises working in trade and those working in hotels and restaurants arenewly established and are less than 4 years old (25% of trade enterprises and 39% of hotels andrestaurants were established after the year 2000). To a great extent, the boom of hotels and thetouristic industry is justified by the increase of Arab oil-rich tourists, triggered by the events ofSeptember 11, 2001. (Figure 2)Figure 2: Distribution of MSEs According to Sector of Activity and Date of Establishment60.0%50.0%40.0%30.0%20.0%10.0%0.0%