Policy making and institution building

When the subject of deliberation is policy making and institution building and the country's leading economists are the participants in it, it is not too much to expect some probing insight into the entire gamut of socio-economic development. Some hard talks too were expected and the speakers did neither disappoint on this score. At issue here is a discussion on 'Policy Making and Institutions in Bangladesh' where eminent economists like Prof Nurul Islam, emeritus research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), suggested a few measures deemed necessary for speeding up the pace of the country's economic development. In modern economic parlance, planning is one conduit to achieving development goals and objectives. But planning uses its raw materials in the form of information, data and statistics. So these raw materials have to be authentic.

Now to ensure that information and data become accurate at every stage of gleaning those, there is a need for knowledgeable and capable people with sharp eyes. This is where Bangladesh lacks the resolve of placing the right persons in right places -- a situation which is more or less the same with all public institutions, government organisations and its affiliated departments, directorates etc. as well as statutory and constitutional bodies. Meanwhile, cooked-up information and data become necessary when inefficient and unqualified people are put in charge on considerations other than merit. But unless the country's economic and social realities get a factual presentation at the policy level, the planning suffers immensely. This points to the arduous task of institution-building in every sphere where government is involved. Where institutions are concerned, merit and efficiency must prevail. Any kind of interference on account of favouritism -- least of all political -- should get the better of the quality required for delivering the goods.

Here the challenge involves good governance, in essence. Unless the ambience of good governance can be created, people with ulterior motive will always make good use of any leeway to their unethical advantage. In most developed countries, such loopholes are plugged under constant vigil. Unless the political leadership encourages fostering a neutral and objective environment in order to have a clear and transparent picture of the administration, institutions cannot breathe free. And freedom of thought and choices based on the welfare of the citizens is a very powerful input in any development paradigm. This is no regime-specific issue. Problems here have been prevailing since long with no effective action taken by any government in the country so far for too long a period.

Economics is a social science. However, without their feet to the ground, the economists are largely instruments of theoretical concepts. Yet then, their values and commitment to the country count. But more importantly, the political leadership in a country has to present before them a vision of socio-political development towards which all must work in a coordinated manner. While such coordination should provide the impetus for proper planning, undue political interference has often proved counter-productive. This, to cite an example, has amply been proved in the case of development funds from donors mostly remaining unutilised on account of lack of proper planning, monitoring and accountability. With the donors becoming extra-sensitive to misuse of development funds, projects involving such funds do  not seem to be appealing nowadays. A change in the bureaucratic and political mindsets is all the more warranted if the country's development goals and objectives are to be achieved.