Thinking Aloud: Volume IX, Issue 10: March 1, 2023

The theme of the March 2023 issue of Thinking Aloud is “Building Resilience to Shocks: Priorities, Challenges and Prospects”—which was also the theme of the 6th SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference (SAEC) 2023, held on 4 and 5 February 2023. The first page article, “Shocks and Shields: Sustaining Development in a Turbulent Time” analyses the current economic shocks affecting Bangladesh and world economy. The article specified three specific set of problems arising from these shocks: macroeconomic crises, social impacts, and challenges for developing countries in achieving the SDGs. In order to address these issues, there is no alternative to build economic resilience for which, the article argues, four crucial areas need to be addressed: broad-based economic growth, macroeconomic management, strengthening social sectors and strengthening institutions. The article assesses Bangladesh’s situation with respect to these four areas and make recommendations for necessary reforms. However, the article notes, there are significant challenges to these reforms as there is a “stable anti-reform coalition”, to counter which there is no alternative to strong political will. The second, third, and fourth pages of this issue presents a brief overview of the 6th SAEC 2023. The 6th SAEC 2023, held both in person and online, hosted 20 paper presentation sessions on macroeconomy, labour market, environment and climate change, political economy, health, education, agriculture, poverty, inequality, digital economy, energy, trade, industry, economic growth and development challenges. Economists, academicians, development practitioners, researchers, and students from around the world presented the papers in the two-day conference. A huge number of local and international participants attended the event in person and online. The conference also hosted two panel discussion sessions on “Shocks and Shields: Sustaining Development in A Turbulent Time”, and “The Power Dynamics between State and Business: How is Capitalism Evolving in Bangladesh?”. The conference speakers were two eminent economists of Bangladesh, Professor Rehman Sobhan and Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, who spoke in the session, “Rowing Against the Tide”. The conference proceedings can be found at the web address, which is also embedded in a QR code, at the end of the fourth page.