Its master’s voice
The federal finance minister recently used selective statistics to publicise that the growth rate is up, inflation is down, budget deficit is lower, reserves are on the rise, and the…
Who rules Pakistan?
A Month or so ago, political economist Akbar Zaidi published a piece in Economic and Political Weekly calling for a revision in our academic understanding of state and society in…
The IMF report
The IMF completed the second review of the ongoing IMF programme at the Dubai meeting on February 9, 2013. They have now released a detailed report of the review after…
Prestige and poverty
While there is no harm in having the mindset of a 16th century Moghul emperor in a personal capacity even in today’s world, the spending priorities of a democratically-elected government…
Are we ready to grow?
While governments in developing countries often tend to exaggerate economic performance for political reasons, it is the duty of professional economists to not only apprise readers about the true state…
Of beaten paths and bleeding budgets
Although the next budget year will start on July 1, both the federal and provincial governments are likely to start preparing their budget estimates for FY15 very soon. The provinces…
The gift
After a flurry of recent visits by Saudi royals including Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, the sudden Saudi gift of $1.5 billion and now the king of Bahrain’s…
Improving fiscal management – II
There is no political will to implementing the above mentioned well-defined fiscal reform agenda, though general consensus on it exists in society. Addiction to borrowed money and lust for wasteful…
Indonesia hit by repercussions of mineral export ban
Indonesia's controversial decision to ban exports of unprocessed minerals is triggering unintended but predictable consequences: about 500,000 mining workers are losing their job. On January 12, Jakarta announced new regulations…
Tax clarity helps, but hurdles remain for Canada LNG exports
A new tax regime proposed for British Columbia's budding liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry has nudged plans for export terminals on Canada's Pacific Coast closer to reality, but it likely…
