Thinking Aloud: Volume X, Issue 10: March 1, 2024

The theme of the March 2024 issue of Thinking Aloud is “New Frontiers in Development and Emerging Dynamics”—which was also the theme of the 7th SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference (SAEC) 2024, held on 23-25 February 2024. The first-page article, “Export diversification for structural transformation in Bangladesh” analyses the potential and the bottlenecks hindering export diversification in Bangladesh. The second, third, and fourth pages of this issue present a brief overview of the 7th SAEC 2024. The 7th SAEC 2024, held in hybrid mode, hosted 16 breakout sessions featuring 64 papers on growth and development, regional integration, the future of work, sustainable climate solutions, poverty and inequality, gender equality, food security, social protection, and energy security. Economists, researchers, development practitioners, and students from around the world presented these papers. Professor Jean-Louis Arcand, President of the Global Development Network (GDN) was the Conference Keynote Speaker. A huge number of local and international participants attended the event in person and online. The conference hosted several panel discussions and special sessions. The conference proceedings can be found at the web address, which is also embedded in a QR code, at the end of the first page.