A recipe for economic growth
PAKISTAN has a history of sacrificing economic growth for short-term macroeconomic stabilisation. At its core, structural weaknesses of the economy — the low tax-to-GDP ratio and foreign exchange deficit —…
Economic diplomacy is the way forward
This is the first of a two-part series detailing National Security Policy’s (NSP) foreign policy’s focus on economic diplomacy – a focus that is a challenge as the world moves…
Geo-economics over geo-politics
The strategic shift from geo-politics to geo-economics is a welcome initiative. In a world where the relative importance of a nation is determined primarily by its economic strength, the focus…
Privatisation for economic recovery
A COMMON refrain of donors is that Pakistan needs to raise its tax-to-GDP ratio substantially to achieve macroeconomic stability on a sustainable basis. It has earlier been argued in these…
Economic liberalism
THE economic discourse revolves around IMF programmes in Pakistan, as the country is being administered for the 23rd time. IMF’s prescription for economic stabilisation, steeped in the principles of economic…
Defining geo-economics
GEO-ECONOMICS is the buzzword these days among our ruling elite. It is recommended as the panacea for Pakistan’s economic ills and a sure path to prosperity. However, there is little…
Personal, not principled
Plato’s dialogues are widely regarded as incomparable with regard to both philosophic depth and literary merit. The dialogues typically portray Plato’s venerated teacher Socrates engaged in a lively, if at…
The profundity of economic power
The US has warned of potential sanctions for any country considering business deals with Iran hours after India signed a 10-year contract with Iran to operate the Chabahar port. In…
Neoliberal economic policy, and political economic outcomes
In a number of interviews after becoming finance minister, there is a sense of naivety reflected in the thoughts of. Muhammad Aurangzeb when he thinks that agriculture, for instance, should…
Pakistan’s (mis)leading economic indicator
The upward movement of the stock market, such as the KSE-100, usually leads to optimism among businesses, statisticians and policymakers. They celebrate these figures as the sign of a national…
