Numbers and Narratives in Bangladesh's Economic Development

This book challenges the dominant international narrative of Bangladesh's socio-economic developments by examining the political economic dynamics and offering insights into the current state of the Bangladeshi economy in light of stability, transformability, and sustainability. It investigates the necessary and sufficient conditions of development by looking at factors such as land, labor, capital, and technology, and explores development by drawing variables of politics and economics to find out a causal relationship.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 245 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book delves into the socio-economic developments of Bangladesh, challenging the dominant international narrative that labels it as a "development surprise," "development paradox," or "development conundrum." Despite the absence of good governance, the book aims to provide valuable insights into the current state of the Bangladeshi economy, focusing on stability, transformability, and sustainability. It examines the political economic dynamics and offers valuable perspectives on the economy's current condition in light of these factors.

While there is a widespread belief that economic growth can be achieved without functioning institutions, advocates argue that authoritarianism can be tolerated as long as a steady course of development is pursued. However, the inadequacy of comparative analysis in understanding the Bangladeshi economy's performance relative to other relevant economies calls these claims myopic and parochial. This book aims to investigate the numbers and narratives to ascertain the validity of such assertions and lamentations.

The necessary conditions for development involve an in-depth inquiry into factors such as land, labor, capital, and technology. On the other hand, sufficient conditions require a penetrating investigation into these same factors. Thus, the book explores development by drawing variables from politics and economics to find a causal relationship and examine how these variables impact themes such as growth, agriculture, manufacturing industry, financial sector, health, education, poverty, and inequality.

By challenging the prevailing narrative and examining the underlying factors contributing to Bangladesh's socio-economic progress, this book offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the country's development journey. It sheds light on the challenges and opportunities that Bangladesh faces, and provides valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders interested in understanding and promoting sustainable development in the region.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811606601
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021