The flawed economics of the IGCEP
One of the ten commandments for electricity planning is ‘Thou Shalt Not Expand Electricity Supply Without Industrial Demand’. New power plants become stranded, costly monuments to poor planning without industrial…
People, economics and security
The slight improvement in Pakistan's economy is welcome — especially as it comes some months before the next budget is due. Everyone in Pakistan wishes for nothing more than an…
Macroeconomics of empty promises
The State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP’s) foreign exchange reserves have dropped by nearly a billion dollars in just eight weeks, from December 13 to February 7. This decline occurred despite…
Politics over economics
This is the second of a two-part series on Pakistani administration’s focus on domestic factors while ignoring external factors which have a much greater relevance in formulation of our domestic…
Politics and economics
This is the first of a two-part series focusing on the symbiotic relationship between politics and economics, with existing literature focusing more on domestic policies premised on globalization representative of…
In search of growth
THERE appears to be growing impatience within the government with the ongoing economic adjustment, and an itch to somehow kick-start growth. The itch grows out of the realisation that the…
The economics of conflict
Conflict has a vastly different impact on different economies based on how insulated it may be (either voluntarily or through sanctions) from the US-led Western financial system and the measures…
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…
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…
Challenge of lower growth: IMF bailout insufficient
The IMF Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) for $7 billion programme is done. However, that does not ensure revival of the economic growth which is necessary for the young population. The government…
