Economics

Building a circle of trust between buyers and suppliers

The dynamics of the global apparel retail industry are changing rapidly, more so than during any time in the past 100 years. We are witnessing a rapid shift to online fashion retail and the closing of traditional brick-and-mortar shopping centres.
Ageing global societies: an opportunity for Bangladesh

Global demographic trends today confirm increasing longevity of populations which is accompanied by a reduction in fertility rates.
The need for the 'correct' politics of development

Despite diverging economic and political trajectories, South Asian countries share commonalities in terms of emerging development challenges in the wake of the new world and regional dynamics.
'Demographic dividend' could turn into a 'demographic disaster'

Bangladesh has a fairly young population with 34 percent aged 15 and younger and just five percent aged 65 and older. At present, more than 65 percent of our population is of working age, between 15 and 64.
What kind of development do we need for an inclusive society?

Development is a buzzword in Bangladesh. Everyone talks about development but what do we really mean by development? There seems to be an obsession everywhere regarding the term without critically challenging the version of development that we have adopted.
Some pre-emptive measures to avoid the middle-income trap

Graduation from a low-income to a middle-income country has long been coming for Bangladesh as it has been performing extremely well among developing countries over the last few years.
Creating a new economic zone for apparel

The signing of a Mem-orandum of Understanding (MOU) early last year between the BGMEA and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) was, quite rightly, much applauded by the national press.
Six macroeconomic challenges

Today, there are six major macroeconomic challenges for Bangladesh's economy. First, accelerating economic growth and maintaining high economic growth over the coming years will remain a big challenge.
Checking capital flight before it is too late

In a recently published report by the Washington-based research institute Global Financial Integrity (GFI), Bangladesh has been ranked second in South Asia in terms of illicit outflows of money.
Women's unpaid work: Time to take concrete action

In 1995, during the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, the UNDP Human Development report stated that women's unaccounted work would amount to USD 3 trillion annually if monetised.
Focus on a better skilled workforce

Education and skills are important prerequisites for faster economic and social development of a country. A skilled workforce is an asset and helps in ensuring enhanced productivity, adoption of new technology, global competitiveness, increased income and reduction of poverty. The East Asian countries achieved a higher growth path with adequate investment in skills development.
Economic challenges in 2019

The curtains are falling on the year 2018 and for our economy it was yet again a roller coaster ride of achievements and disappointments. Challenges remain but if our economy's long history of unfaltering resilience is any guide, sooner or later we are going to overcome them.
Making the rich richer: How multinational companies create inequality

About one year ago, I had the privilege of meeting one of the top corporate executives in Bangladesh. Well-known as a corporate kingpin heading one of the top multinational companies (MNCs) in our country, he was happy to chat when we were introduced at a family event.
The Liberation War and Bangladesh's Development

In 2007, a legendary Indian civil servant, BN Yugandhar, then a member of the Indian Planning Commission, asked me to explain how Bangladesh was developing so remarkably.
From 'basket case' to 'development model'

In 1971, when Bangladesh emerged from the War of Liberation, many doubted that the country could survive as an independent state but today, 47 years later, those doubts have been put to rest.
The challenging economics of climate change

Global climate change has become one of the dominant discourses in the scientific and public policy arena.
How can the private sector position Bangladesh for hypergrowth and long-term success?

Unlike in many other countries, the private sector in Bangladesh was a crucial player in helping the country move up the development trajectory.
The reforms China needs

This year marks a decade since the global financial crisis erupted. For the United States, 2018 is very different from 2008.
Why isn't private investment growing faster?

The long-term trend of GDP growth rate of Bangladesh shows that the country has continued to improve its rate of growth steadily over the past 46 years after independence in 1971.
Extreme poverty: Special measures or solved by growth?

In material development terms Bangladesh has changed a lot, and has made much progress since I first arrived just over 44 years ago.
Bangladesh Apparel Industry: Naive negotiation and a rat race

The quote "Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate", from John F Kennedy is a mantra that should be adopted by all of us working in the readymade garment (RMG) sector of Bangladesh when entering into price discussions with our trading partners.
Elections and the economy

An interesting theory regarding pre-election periods is the theory of “opportunistic political business cycle,” by which incumbent politicians cause temporary economic expansions before the elections.
How is Bangladesh faring?

The idea of inclusive growth emerged after high rates of growth in national income had failed to generate sustained improvements in human welfare.
The spectacular rise of East Asia

When the history of our times is written, the spectacular rise of East Asia will be a towering landmark.
The need for equitability

The Bangladesh government proudly promotes the notion that the country is going through a rapid spell of socio-economic development—encapsulated by real GDP growth rates of over seven percent since 2016.
Another global financial crisis for developing countries?

George Soros, Bill Gates and other pundits have been predicting another financial crisis. In their recent book, Revolution Required: The Ticking Bombs of the G7 Model, Peter Dittus and Herve Hamoun, former senior officials of the Bank of International Settlements, warned of "ticking time bombs" in the global financial system waiting to explode, mainly due to the policies of major developed countries.
The value of a woman's time

The word “economics” originates from the Greek “oikonomikos”, which roughly means management and care of the household. From this etymology, it may appear that women, who are often in charge of managing and caring for the household, would be highly regarded in the discipline of economics. Yet in conventional economics, the unpaid housework of women is completely disregarded.
Fixing our current account deficit

If it was for a large, resource-rich country like the United States or Germany, a current account deficit of around USD 10 billion would be nothing. But for a small developing economy like Bangladesh, a current account deficit of USD 10 billion or four percent of GDP is definitely big enough to sound the alarm.
Sanchayapatra: The scapegoat of our financial sector problems?

Playing the blame game is one of our oldest rituals. When a crisis strikes it's always easier to lay the blame on someone that appears, only on surface, to be the “bad guy” without admitting to more fundamental causes. Sanchayapatra is just that: the scapegoat of our growing economic and financial sector challenges.
Deserving candidates should get access

The solution to this deviant problem, in my humble opinion, lies not in cutting the head to cure the headache, but in thoughtful and in-depth deliberation focusing on set principles and objectives of the national saving scheme—its history, aims and objectives since 1944.