Bangladesh's Road to Long-term Economic Prosperity : Risks and Challenges

“A must read for anyone interested in understanding complexities of development process.”–Fakhruddin Ahmed, former Governor of the Central Bank of Bangladesh“Policy makers and general readers including specialists would find this lucid analysis very useful.”– Nurul Islam, Deputy Chairman of the First Planning commission of Bangladesh“The author provides both valuable caution and useful guides to everyone interested in Bangladesh’s economic future.”– Salim Rashid, Emeritus Professor of Economics, University of Illinois, USAThis book examines the recent emergence of Bangladesh as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Identified by Goldman Sachs as being on a meteoric economic rise, the country has dwarfed India in social improvement also. Attempting to build on these successes, the Bangladeshi government has set the ambitious aim of attaining the status of fully developed country by 2041. This study identifies the trifecta of major risks which could derail Bangladesh’s upwards trajectory: the rapid development of robotics and artificial development, the uncertain political and economic global landscape, and the constant threat of climate change and natural disasters. In order to stay on track, the government will need to address various social, political, policy  and institutional challenges facing the economy, including poor governance, inadequate physical infrastructure, skill and educational bottlenecks, demographic burden, dwindling social capital and lack of transformational leadership.