MACRO MIRROR

Can Biden lead the world in pandemic recovery?

Following the inauguration of his Presidency, Joe Biden has already given several executive orders which are of great significance, not only for the US but for the entire world.
Project implementation during the pandemic discouragingly poor

The first six months of the fiscal year 2020-21 saw very slow implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Bangladesh.
Counting planetary pressures for sustainable human development

Human civilisation has progressed steadily over the years. Several countries have advanced immensely.
What we look forward to in 2021 for Bangladesh

Against all the odds 2021 ushers in with a lot of expectations. The Covid-19 pandemic which engulfed our economic and social lives in every possible manner in 2020 is expected to be brought under control as hopes are high with the approval of vaccinations developed by a number of companies.
How effective have stimulus packages been?

A year has passed since the world learnt about the attack of the novel coronavirus. Countries around the world are still grappling with the fallout from the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.
Expectations from the Eighth Five Year Plan

The Eighth Five Year Plan (8FYP) of Bangladesh is going to be finalised and approved soon. The duration of the Seventh Five Year Plan (7FYP) ended in June 2020.
Padma Bridge and the pursuit of inclusive growth

On the eve of its 50th birthday, Bangladesh basks with glory and pride. The country has crossed several milestones along the way and is set to achieve many more in the coming years.
Time to check ‘urbanisation of poverty’

Urban people have been affected more than rural people in terms of the health crisis during the Covid-19 pandemic. One reason for higher urban suffering is the high population density in urban areas and inadequate facilities for them.
Women and girls must feel safe everywhere

The significance of this year’s “16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence” initiative of the United Nations is greater than ever before in view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
What the new trade bloc means for Bangladesh

Mixed opinions followed after the signing of the new trade bloc—the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on November 15, 2020.
Bangladesh’s expectations from the Biden government

As the world awaits US President-elect Joe Biden’s formal inauguration in January 2021, discussions on the implications of his domestic and international policies are mounting.
USA’s climate commitment in the Biden era

As the Democrat Presidential candidate Joe Biden wins the US election, expectations are mounting on several fronts.
Challenges to sustainable financing for South Asian countries

The global financial landscape has been under stress for a long time.
Getting the best out of a changing rural economy

Rural Bangladesh is changing. This change has been happening rather fast during the last two decades.
Why Bangladesh and India’s per capita GDP should not be compared

The latest report on World Economic Outlook by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published in October 2020 has created a lot of noise both in Bangladesh and India.
Bangladesh needs a paradigm shift towards green economy

Over the last five decades, our economic performance has been impressive, despite various limitations such as resource constraints and weak governance.
How has Bangladesh managed the pandemic-affected economy so far?

Some indicators of the Bangladesh economy have started to show positive signs in the recent period. Among those are remittances and exports of readymade garments (RMG), which were affected hugely since the outbreak of Covid-19 in Bangladesh in March 2020.
The brunt of the pandemic on MSMEs in the Asia Pacific Region

While economies around the world are reeling from distress due to the debilitating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, some sectors are facing the brunt of Covid-19 the most.
Women’s access to stimulus packages and post Covid-19 gender equality

All crises—natural disasters, wars, pandemics—affect different sections of people in different ways. Like any other crisis, Covid-19 has differing impacts on society.
Living with floods and reducing vulnerability in Bangladesh

Every year, Bangladesh suffers from floods that cause loss of life, livelihoods, crops and property. However, in certain years, due to heavy rainfall and the flow of upstream water, floods become devastating.
Bangladesh’s GDP growth number does not hold water

Almost a year ago, in this column, I wrote about the obsession of our policymakers’ with the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (“Our incomprehensible obsession with GDP”, May 19, 2019). I discussed in brief how GDP is estimated, and its inherent weaknesses which is why this indicator should not be taken so seriously.
The government stimulus packages must reach those who need it the most

Since March 25, 2020, the government of Bangladesh has unveiled 19 stimulus packages to help the economy recover from the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Making online education effective

During the ongoing corona-virus pandemic educational institutions all over the world have introduced online medium for imparting lessons to students. Indeed, classroom lessons in many advanced countries had become technology dependent even before the pandemic. Now it is no longer a choice but a necessity if students are to be taught.
The journey of women in leadership

When the corona-virus pandemic is raging around the world, political leaders are being weighed in for their performances in containing the pandemic.
Ensuring food security for all

Bangladesh has made remarkable growth in agriculture since independence.
Green economic recovery from corona pandemic

The ongoing economic recession due to coronavirus pandemic has created opportunities for countries to replace the standard growth path with the green growth.
Future of aid during post-DFID era

The recent announcement of merging the UK Department for International Development (DFID) with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has made the development community baffled and anxious.
Tax reform is the key to creating fiscal space

The need for increased fiscal space in the budget for fiscal year (FY) 2021, which is the Covid budget, had been pronounced loudly way before the budget was announced on June 11, 2020. Domestic resource mobilisation by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is the major source of financing the budget. The other sources are borrowing from the banking system, sale of national savings certificates, foreign loans and assistance.
Seven aspects of budget for FY2021

The finance minister of Bangladesh deserves thanks for presenting the national budget for fiscal year (FY) 2021 at a time when the implications of Covid-19 (C19) pandemic is dire.
What balancing act is needed for FY2021 budget?

The budget for fiscal year (FY) 2021 is going to be presented in the backdrop of a situation which was previously not experienced in the history of Bangladesh.