Impact of Macroeconomic Variables on Economic Development of Bangladesh Since Liberation War: An Empirical Study

Abstract

The devastating economic situation after liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 can again be transpired during the current as well as future democratic rulers as the state of the economic condition is currently facing possibly the most severe exigency since the macro-economic crisis of the late 1980s. The twin shocks emanating from the yawning fiscal deficit and deteriorating balance of payments have exposed the entrenched vulnerabilities of the Bangladesh economy, putting under threat the achievement of the 1990s. A large part of these stresses and strains are underpinned by the fundamental structural weaknesses which characterize the Bangladesh economy. But the pressures have been accentuated by a benign neglect in undertaking necessary reform measures to improve the competitiveness of the economy. Bangladesh is a developing country in the South Asia. Its illiterate and unskilled large population is a burden to the country. Agriculture is the main source of the income of the country. Government of the country is taking various steps to decrease poverty, but yet about one-third of people of Bangladesh are living below the national poverty line. More than half of the children of Bangladesh are underweight. The gross domestic product (GDP) is hovering around 6% for the last decade. Migrated labor and send remittances were on the increase. Conversely, inflation, government debt and GDP growth are nothing to write home about. Shortage of electricity and gas supplies, poor road network, bridges and ports, political unrest and natural calamities are major problems in national production and economic development. Debt burden of the government is increasing rapidly over time due to increase in the budget deficit. Both the internal and external debts of the government are increasing every year. Among the various obstacles, Bangladesh is advocating for poverty reduction by means of improving the quality of education and promoting gender equality. This has led to an achievement of reduction in child mortality and improvement in maternal health.