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Looking for independent analyses

July 24, 2007 00:00:00


WHEN I look for an opinion on a subject, I look for my favourite writer. Over the time, we as readers developed the habit of searching for our own kind or a band of analysts or essayists. According to our test and expectation, they have entertained us with their views and analyses. Similarly, as citizens we often look up to some institutions from whom we expect that any analysis that comes up should be representative and authentic. As far as I am concerned, as an individual, I remain loyal to those writers or institutions as long as they remain committed to their original focus and culture. So is my readership loyalty goes to FE, that I am reading since its third issue, its hard copy, not on internet, being outside the country.
After the national budget, or economic events, incidents, I look up for commentary to get the actual gist of the matter. What is evident so far, as per my understanding, the national institutions, when they came up with related comments or analyses, did so poorly or miserably failed to come up with an objective probe into the matter be it the national budget, central bank's monetary policy, interest rate, tax rate or subsidy.
We become habituated to the jargon that everything has been politicised. Even though many prominent economists have been working under or for these organisations, yet those have failed to deliver up to our expectations.
What is responsible for this -- the budgetary allocation or constraint of other sorts or toeing the line of focus or vibes of the resource suppliers?
It is very unfortunate that even their periodical reports fail to disseminate the truth and we have developed a distrust in those reports and the persons behind.
As an alternative to this dismal situation, with a growing demand, a few handful of institutions have emerged amid our hope and despair. But their observations are not also free from the influence of foreign money.
It is prominent in our behaviour that we usually turn to foreign embassies, multilateral donor agencies or institutions for almost everything. I do not intent to raise a debate on the matter. But my exasperation is why and how, our analysis, belonging to the national institutions and as also in their individual professional capacity, have failed to meet our expectations.
When the seminars are abuzz with popular sermons on building ethical logic and values supporting the national interest, it is not clear to us as to why a national mouthpiece of our own could not be developed so far by raising funds from thousands of people so that such an institution could stand on its own feet to speak for the millions who look up to it.
I find it as a mockery to one's sovereignty, when the cash supplier come and say 'oh! you believe in me, have trust in me, I will never coerce you in my way, from today you are free'. Applauding palms seems noisy, yet fragile.
The functionaries of government-supported research institutions, despite our great expectation about them, sit idle with their meagre pay packet awaiting only to lay golden eggs. I see no other string attached to the culture and attitude but incompetence.
M M Haque
Jeddah, K.S.A

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