Development 2.0--by Nadeem Ul Haque

Here everybody is an economist! Everyone carries their shopping list of what needs to be done. I often get long lectures from opinionated people who obviously use the same ideas at dinner parties and official meetings (why are they called to official meetings and allowed to hold forth?).In a loud voice and with full conviction they argue “ it is not rocket science! ” All we need is “ Get the basics right! ” As if these are arguments. But no matter the audience (especially arrogant officialdom) buys their line. My question “ what are the basics? ” is often drowned out! We all know what the basics are without actually talking about it. This is how economics is done in Pakistan. After much effort, I find out what the basics are in the minds of these philosophers. I learn that their basis are mere wishes for in increase in revenu es, exports and growth. Makes it easy! Does it not! We wish all the good things and call it economics. For sixty years Plan after Plan as w...

Understanding Growth and Development Fundamentally what has preoccupied most of economic thinking over the centuries has been the question “ how can living- standards be improved for most of humanity”. Answers have varied but the quest remains the same. In some sense this has been an eternal struggle for mankind. Most religions have been based on giving us order so that human welfare can be maximized. Utopian philosophers have also developed visions on how to organize society so that people can live better. This very human quest also fires up debates and people tend to be vehement in defending their version of utopia or faith without even feeling that they are merely preaching. Everyone seems to know how people’s lot can improve if only their prescription were followed. The development community has also fallen prey to this prescriptive approach.  Experts pretend to have solutions which if followed will lead to riches not only created but well distributed among the citize...

Return to Magistracy A Distracted Bureaucracy In our adventures to find a viable political system, we have politicized the bureaucracy moving it away from its primary function—magistracy. Politically weak governments attempt to buy legitimacy through the delivery of projects and giveaways. Almost as a bribe — repeated governments claim “I cannot give you freedom and liberty but I will build dams, roads and railways!” And “I cannot give you security but I will build education.” And even there the dictates of the system lead to more building not more public service. Such agendas are supported by donors who too are in hurry to write those reports claiming “literacy has improved in my tenure”, “in my 3 years here, I have done three projects on clean water”, and “I financed a project for building a dam worth 20 billion.” Donors are dumping money on development projects to achieve these ephemeral goals for better economic development. Donor project are a godsend for ...

My email has been inundated with messages that contain the following. " Govt. Concessions for a Member of NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (MNA) Ø Monthly Salary : Rs. 120,000 to 200,000 Ø Expense for Constitution per month : Rs.100,000 Ø Office expenditure per month : Rs.140,000 Ø Traveling concession (Rs. 8 per km) : Rs.48,000 (For a visit to ISLAMABAD & return): 6000 km Ø Daily BETA during Assembly meets : Rs.500 Ø Charge for 1st class (A/C) in train : Free (For any number of times all over PAKISTAN ) Ø Charge for Business Class in flights: Free for 40 trips / year (With wife or P.A.) Ø Rent for Govt.. hostel any where: Free Ø Electricity costs at home : Free up to 50,000 units Ø Local phone call charge : Free up to 1,70,000 calls Ø TOTAL expense for a MNA per year : Rs. 32,000,000 Ø TOTAL expense for 5 years : Rs. 1,60,000,000 Ø For 534 MNA, the ex...

The Nation noted the following plea from the Pakistan government today “Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said Pakistan though facing several challenges offers vast opportunities of investment, which should be highlighted before the world. Talking to media during the Friends of Democratic Pakistan moot in Dubai, Pakistan foreign minister said the conference has been organized to attract the corporate sector towards investment in Pakistan.” This plea needs some footnotes 1. Note the conference is being held in Dubai because Pakistan is considered too dangerous for investors to go to. 2. Interpret the plea as we will do nothing for ourselves. We will not change our lifestyle; let the foreign investor bring in money so that our bad habits can continue. 3. This charade has been played out by all our governments from Ayub to now. 4. This is the year 2010, and our government continues to use tools from the 1960s: donor conferences, friends of Pakistan ...

“Come in! Gentlemen, come in!” said Mr. Dawit as he looked distractedly from his rather engrossed conversation with a very official looking gentlemen. “Please have a seat. Make yourself comfortable. Just give me a minute and I will be with you. Unfortunately this message from the president is very important and has to be dealt with immediately.” With that, he went back to his conversation with the very official looking gentleman seated next to him. The tone of the conversation was much too low for the three rather timid looking gentlemen who had been invited into the very spacious and well-appointed suite of the finest hotel of the time in Philadelphia . The atmosphere was very imposing for our three colonial gentlemen who rarely entered such opulent surroundings. The two gentlemen huddled in that very official conversation were also of a superior air and manner, obviously used to greater wealth and privilege than their three visitors. The latter huddled together on one small so...