Ahmad Ahsan

Dr Ahmad Ahsan is director at the Policy Research Institute, a former World Bank economist, and a faculty member at the Economics department of Dhaka University.

Inflation and not so SMART interest rates

The failure to tame inflation not only imposes a steep tax on the poor and the middle class, it also erodes economic competitiveness.

1m ago

The budget does not inspire confidence

The recent downgrade by Moody's of the credit ratings of Bangladesh’s economy and some private banks is not the only indicator that confidence is declining.

11m ago

A gale-force intellect and a caring man

What is the source of Prof Islam's eminence? This article is not the place to discuss in any depth the broad range of his intellect: one of a pioneering quantitative development economist who, ahead of his time, also rendered important institutions and processes in his work that ranged from international trade, agriculture, rural development, to governance.

11m ago

Is Bangladesh Bank finally ready to tackle the external deficit?

The reality is that using only the exchange rates without interest rate action will deepen the crisis.

1y ago

Is American democracy at risk?

On November 8, 2022, the United States will be holding its fourth national elections since 2016.

1y ago

How decentralisation helped China and Vietnam grow

The achievements of pro-market reforms in these two countries over the past four decades have been stupendous.

1y ago

Let our champion women power Bangladesh forward

Women's empowerment – a gift of liberation – has already been a significant force behind development.

1y ago

Charting the middle-income journey

Bangladesh needs proper macroeconomic management to avoid middle income trap

1y ago
December 16, 2020
December 16, 2020

Our pride and glory: The Mukti Bahini in 1971

Bangladesh belongs to a select group of countries that fought their way to independence. We won our freedom by winning a fierce nine-month Liberation War against a very well trained, well-armed Pakistan Army.

November 8, 2020
November 8, 2020

Historic 2020 US Election: The pandemic vs the economic

The 2020 US Presidential Election held last Tuesday, November 3, will likely go down as among the most important in United States history—for several reasons.

December 17, 2018
December 17, 2018

The Liberation War and Bangladesh's Development

In 2007, a legendary Indian civil servant, BN Yugandhar, then a member of the Indian Planning Commission, asked me to explain how Bangladesh was developing so remarkably.

November 12, 2018
November 12, 2018

US 2018 Midterm Elections: Why are the results so close and mixed?

For most of 2018, the talk was there would be a Blue Democratic wave, sweeping the Democrats into power in both chambers of Congress. President Trump had unusually low approval rates over the last two years on average getting less than 40 percent approval ratings according to Gallup.

November 12, 2018
November 12, 2018

Battle for the Republic

The US midterm elections on November 6, 2018 have been widely accepted as being among the most consequential in American history.

October 18, 2018
October 18, 2018

How did Europe dominate the world?

How did a group of a few, small countries of Western Europe come to dominate the world for nearly 300 years? As a recent history book noted (Why Did Europe Conquer the World?, Philip Hoffman), a thousand years ago these countries were “poor, violent, politically chaotic ... hopelessly backward …

October 11, 2018
October 11, 2018

The spectacular rise of East Asia

When the history of our times is written, the spectacular rise of East Asia will be a towering landmark.

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