• 3rd SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference

    “Leave no one behind in South Asia”

    February 17-18, 2018, BRAC Centre Inn, Mohakhali, Dhaka

About the Conference

3rd SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference (3rd SAEC) on “Leave no one behind in South Asia” held on February 17-18, 2018 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The objective of the conference is to promote quality economic research among academicians, researchers, policy advocates, students and young aspiring economists, as well as connecting economists from every corner of the country to bring them on a common platform for knowledge sharing. After successful completion of the 1st and 2nd SAEC in 2016 and 2017 respectively, the theme of the 3rd SAEC focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 3rd SAEC 2018 will be dedicated to the memory of late Dr. Saman Kelegama. Dr. Kelegama served as the Executive Director of Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Sri Lanka.

Schedule

  • SaturdayFEBRUARY 17, 2018
  • SundayFEBRUARY 18, 2018
08:30 - 9:00

Registration


9:00-11:15

INAUGURAL SESSION AND KEYNOTE SPEECH (AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR)


Chair: Dr. Bazlul Haque Khondker, Chairman, SANEM, and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka
11:15 – 01:00

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 1, 2 & 3

BREAKOUT SESSION 1 (AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR)

Economic Growth and Productivity

Chair: Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka

Paper presentations:

  • “An Analysis of Expenditure Behavior of Remittances Receiving Household in Bangladesh: Evidence from Propensity Score Matching Method” by Mr. K.M. Nafiz Ifteakher Tulon, Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Economics (IHE), University of Dhaka
  • “Budget Deficit and Growth: In Search of Ceiling for Bangladesh”, by Mr. S. M. Abdullah, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka
  • “Total Factor Productivity in Bangladesh: Impacts and Determinants” by Mr. Maruf Ahmed, Research Associate, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka
  • “Trade Liberalization in India: Does ‘Pollution Haven Hypothesis’ hold?” by Mr. Suvajit Banerjee, PhD Scholar, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, India
11:15 PM – 12:15 PM

Discussant: Dr. Kazi Iqbal, Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka

12:15 PM – 12:25 PM

Open discussion

12:25 PM – 12:50 PM

Remarks by the Chair

12:50 PM – 01:00 PM

BREAKOUT SESSION 2 (MEETING ROOM 1, 3rd FLOOR)

Investment and Capital Market

Chair: Dr. Faisal Ahmed, Chief Economist, Bangladesh Bank

Paper presentations:

  • “Movable Assets as Collateral Against Loans: Risks and Opportunities in Bangladesh” by Mr. Asjadul Kibria, Planning Editor, The Financial Express, Bangladesh
  • “The Effect of Non-Performing Loans on the LMICs with a Focus on the Macro Economy and Institutional Quality” by Mr. K Suranjit, Deputy Director, Banking Regulation and Policy Department, Bangladesh Bank
  • “Stylized Facts of the Statistical Properties of Risk and Return of the Dhaka Stock Exchange: 1990-2015” by Ms. Siban Shahana, Research Associate, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Bangladesh
  • “Remittances and Asset Accumulation in Bangladesh: A Study using Generalized Propensity Score” by Dr. Mehdi Chowdhury, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Bournemouth University, United Kingdom
11:15 PM – 12:15 PM

Discussant: Dr. Monzur Hossain, Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)

12:15 PM – 12:25 PM

Open discussion

12:25 PM – 12:50 PM

Remarks by the Chair

12:50 PM – 01:00 PM

BREAKOUT SESSION 3 (MEETING ROOM 3, 3rd FLOOR)

Strong Institution & Good Governance

Chair: Dr. Kazi Ali Toufique, Research Director, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka

Paper presentations:

  • “Distributional Impact of Political Violence: Evidence from Differential Impacts on Commodity Price” by Dr. Md. Mainul Hoque, Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka
  • “An Empirical Investigation of Corruption and Sustainable Development: Evidence from a Panel of Asian, African and Latin American Countries” by Muntasir Murshed, Research Associate, North South University
  • “The Missing Middle in the Developing Countries: The Role of Tax Regulation and Corruption” by Shafiun Nahin Shimul, Assistant Professor, Institute of Health Economics (IHE), University of Dhaka
11:15 PM – 12:15 PM

Discussant: Dr. Ashikur Rahman, Senior Economist, Policy Research Institute (PRI), Dhaka

12:15 PM – 12:25 PM

Open discussion

12:25 PM – 12:50 PM

Remarks by the Chair

12:50 PM – 01:00 PM

Lunch

01:00 PM – 02:00 PM
02:00 – 04:15

SANEM-ESID ORGANIZED SESSION


PANEL DISCUSSION (AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR)

“Institutions, Governance and Trade in the Context of Emerging Global and Regional Challenges” - A South Asian Panel Discussion in Memory of Dr. Saman Kelegama

Trigger Presentation and Moderation: Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka

Chief Guest: Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka

Special Guest: Ambassador M Shahidul Islam, Secretary General, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic cooperation (BIMSTEC)

Panelists:

  • Professor Kunal Sen, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
  • Dr. Dushni Weerakoon, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Sri Lanka
  • Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
  • Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan
  • Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairman, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Nepal
  • Dr. Prabir De, Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), India
02:00 PM – 04:30 PM

Tea/Coffee Break

04:30 PM – 04:45 PM
04:45 – 06:15

BREAKOUT SESSIONS 4, 5 & 6

BREAKOUT SESSION 4 (AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR)

Social Inclusion

Chair: Dr. Mustafa K. Mujeri, Executive Director, Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM), Dhaka

Paper presentations:

  • “Differential Impact of Social Security Programmes on Income Generation” by Dr. Akhilesh Kumar Sharma, Associate Fellow, Institute for Human Development, India
  • “An Effective Use of Human Capital: Using NTA Analysis” by Dr. Bazlul Haque Khondker, Chairman, SANEM and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Muhammad Moshiur Rahman, Research Associate, UNDP Bangladesh
  • “Interpreting “Leave No One Behind” in the context of Bangladesh” by Sarah Sabin Khan, Research Associate, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
04:45 PM – 05:30 PM

Discussant: Dr. Khondaker Golam MoazzemResearch Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka

05:30 PM – 05:40 PM

Open discussion

05:40 PM – 06:05 PM

Remarks by the Chair

06:05 AM – 06:15 PM

BREAKOUT SESSION 5 (MEETING ROOM 1, 3rd FLOOR)

Health & Nutrition

Chair: Dr. Rumana Huque, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka

Paper presentations:

  • “Determinants of Universal Health Coverage for Climate Induced Diseases in the Coastal Bangladesh: Approach of Gravity Model” by Md. Hafiz Iqbal, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Govt. Edward College, Pabna, Bangladesh
  • “Modeling Life Expectancy for the South Asian Countries” by Istihak Rayhan, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka
  • “Issues related to Livestock Returns in Bangladesh” by Wahid Ferdous Ibon, Research Associate, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka
04:45 PM – 05:30 PM

Discussant: Ms. Tahmina Begum, National Health Accounts Expert

05:30 PM – 05:40 PM

Open discussion

05:40 PM – 06:05 PM

Remarks by the Chair

06:05 AM – 06:15 PM

BREAKOUT SESSION 6 (MEETING ROOM 3, 3rd FLOOR)

Gender Equality & Education

Chair: Dr. Rushidan Islam Rahman, Research Director, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka

Paper presentations:

  • “Unpaid Family Labour: A Hidden Form of Labour Market Discrimination of Women in Bangladesh" by Dr. Selim Raihan, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka
  • “Gender Wage Gap and Occupational Segregation Revisited: Evidence from Bangladesh Labour Force Survey Data” by Md. Al Hasan, Research Associate, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
  • “Indispensable to Factors Affecting Quality of Universal Primary Education: A Case of Comilla” by Nobinkhor Kundu, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Comilla University, Bangladesh
04:45 PM – 05:30 PM

Discussant: Dr. Nazneen Ahmed, Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka

05:30 PM – 05:40 PM

Open discussion

05:40 PM – 06:05 PM

Remarks by the Chair

06:05 AM – 06:15 PM

SESSION BREAK

06:15 PM - 06:25 PM
06:25 – 07:10

SPECIAL LECTURE (AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR)

“Growth Out of the Blue: Nightlight and Economic Activity”

Moderation by: Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM, and Professor of Economics, University of Dhaka

Lecture by: Dr. Martin Rama, Chief Economist, South Asia, The World Bank

SESSION BREAK

07:10 PM - 07:15
07:15 – 08:15

A SESSION FOR BUDDING RESEARCHERS


AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR

Paper Presentation by Budding Researchers

Chair: Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka

Special Guest: Dr. Martin Rama, Chief Economist, South Asia, The World Bank

Presentation and Panel Discussion:

  • “What Matters for the Quality of Education in South Asia: An Empirical Examination of the Determining Factors with a QEI”, by Avinno Faruk, University of Dhaka
  • “Inadequate Sanitation as an Impediment to Sustainable Development: A Qualitative Approach”, by Tamanna Tabassum, University of Dhaka
  • “Analyzing Unpaid Labor: What Makes a Woman Stay Far Sway from Decent Work?”, by Wasik Sajid Khan, University of Dhaka
  • “Countering Premature Deindustrialization: Can South Asia Overcome the Innovation Conundrum?”, by Semab Rahman, University of Dhaka
  • “Rainwater Harvesting: The Best Solution to Mitigate Urban Water Supply Crisis of South Asia”, by Farhana Kabir, University of Dhaka
  • “Emission Control: Nudging Towards a Better Future”, by Md. Raied Arman, University of Dhaka
  • “Understanding the Health Status of South Asia and Its Determinants”, by Ayesha Ahmed, University of Dhaka
07:15 PM – 07:55 PM

Open discussion

07:55 PM – 08:05 PM

Remarks by the Chair

08:05 PM – 08:15 PM
08:15

Dinner


08:30 - 9:00

Registration


9:00-10:30

SANEM-IGC ORGANIZED SESSION

10:45 – 12:30

SANEM-BIGD ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR

Partner: BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD)

Reflections on Citizens Engagement in Development Processes in Bangladesh

Chair: Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman, Executive Director, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University & Country Director, International Growth Centre (IGC) – Bangladesh

Introduction by the Chair

10:45 AM – 10:50 AM

Paper Presentation:

  • “Institutionalizing Deliberative Democracy in a Patron Clientelistic Setting” by Dr. Mirza M. Hassan, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, BRAC University, Dhaka
10:50 AM – 11:10 AM

Panelists:

  • Professor Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka
  • Dr. Kazi Maruful Islam, Professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka
  • Ms. Syeda Salina Aziz, Senior Research Associate, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University, Dhaka
  • Mr. Sultan M. Zakaria, Senior Research Associate, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University, Dhaka
11:10 AM – 11:50 AM

Open discussion

11:50 PM – 12:20 PM

Remarks by the Chair

12:20 PM – 12:30 PM

LUNCH

12:30 PM – 01:30 PM
01:30 – 03:00

SANEM-DECCMA ORGANIZED SESSION


AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR

Partner: DECCMA (DEltas, vulnerability and Climate Change: Migration and Adaptation)

CLIMATE CHANGE, MIGRATION AND ADAPTATION: CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD FOR BANGLADESH

Chair:
  • Dr. Mashfiqus Salehin, Director and Professor, Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Presentation:
  • Dr. Mashfiqus Salehin, Director and Professor, Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka
  • Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka

Panelists:
  • Dr. Anwara Begum, Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dhaka
  • Mr. Saiful Alam, Research into Use Officer, DECCMA, Bangladesh

Session Break

03:00 PM – 03:10 PM
03:10 – 04:40

SANEM-MCCI ORGANIZED SESSION

AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR)

Partner: Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Dhaka

Reforms Need to Facilitate Private Sector Engagement for SDG Achievement in Bangladesh

Chair:
  • Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka

Keynote Speaker:

  • Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Executive Director, Policy Research Institute (PRI), Dhaka

Panelists:

  • Mr. Habibullah N. Karim - MCCI Board Member and MD, Technohaven Company Limited
  • Mr. Asif Ibrahim - Vice Chairman, New Age Garments Limited
  • Ms. Farzana Chowdhury - MD, Green Delta Insurance Limited
  • Dr. M. Masrur Reaz, Senior Economist and Program Manager, Finance, Competitiveness, Innovation Global Practice, World Bank Group

Tea/Coffee Break

04:40 PM – 05:00 PM
05:00 – 07:00

N INTER DISCIPLINARY SESSION

AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR

aN INTER DISCIPLINARY SESSION

Chair: Dr. Minhaj Mahmud, Senior Research Fellow, BIDS

Paper presentations

  • • “Factors Influencing Rising C-section Delivery in Bangladesh”, Dr. Mohammad Mainul Islam, Department of Population Science, University of Dhaka, Zakiul Alam, BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, BRAC University, S M Abdullah, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka.
  • • “Health Shocks and Preference Instability: Assessing Health-State Dependency of Willingness-to-Pay for Corrective Eyeglasses”, Muhammad Nazmul Islam, BRAC School of Public Health, Malabika Sarker, BRAC School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Heidelberg University, Dr. Atonu Rabbani, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka and BRAC School of Public Health.
  • • “Masculinity Norm Conformity and Risky Sexual Behavior among Young Men in Urban Dhaka Slum”, Dr. Atonu Rabbani, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka and BRAC School of Public Health, Ashfique Rizwan, BRAC School of Public Health, Malabika Sarker, BRAC School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health, Heidelberg University.
  • • “Saving money and flexing muscle: capital and political factions in a Bangladeshi bazar”, Dr. David Jackman, Effective States and Inclusive Development (ESID) Research Centre, University of Manchester
05:00 PM – 06:20 PM

Discussant:

  • Dr. Sabina Faiz Rasheed, BRAC School of Public Health
  • Ms. Serena CoccioloInstitute for International Economic Studies (IIES), Stockholm School of Economics

    • 06:20 PM – 06:40 PM

    Open discussion

    06:40 PM – 06:50 PM

    Remarks by the Chair

    06:50 PM – 07:00 PM
    07:00 – 07:45

    SPECIAL SESSION


    SPECIAL LECTURE AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR

    “Human Development for Everyone”

    Moderator: Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director, SANEM and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka

    Lecture by: Dr. Selim Jahan, Director, Human Development Report Office, UNDP

    07:45 – 08:15

    HONORING ECONOMISTS OF INFLUENCE


    SPECIAL SESSION: AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR

    Honoring Economists of Influence

    Chair: Dr. Bazlul Haque Khondker, Chairman, SANEM, and Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka

    Guests of Honor:

    • Professor Shamsul Alam, Member, General Economics Division, Planning Commission, GoB
    • Dr. Quazi Shahabuddin, Former Director General, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)
    08:15 – 08:30

    CLOSING SESSION (AUDITORIUM, 2nd FLOOR)


    08:30 PM

    DINNER AND CULTURAL EVENT