Government and Rural Transformation: Role of Public Spending and Policies in Bangladesh

The book depicts an analytical picture of the socio-economic transformation of the economy of Bangladesh, particularly of the agriculture and rural sectors. Transformation is explained as improved conditions of life and living, through expanded access to income, health, education, energy, transportation services and protection against vulnerability. Public expenditure and policies to support the development of infrastructure, technology, institutions, private initiatives of collective organizations, including NGOs, and numerous individual ventures contributed to the transformation. While a large number of causal factors underlying the transformation are recognized, the synergy of all factors constitutes the basic source of success. This synergy reinforces impacts of one another and induces the growth of new innovative activities. The past twenty-five years provide the canvas for the depiction of transformation presented in the book. Based on lessons of the past and the emerging global scene, and of the rural economy of Bangladesh- a vision for the future two decades of economic development is portrayed. Challenges to the realization of the vision are underlined and an agenda of public actions to be taken is outlined. In an extremely dynamic world, Bangladesh has to remain constantly alert to changing events in domestic, regional and global contexts. Development of internal capacities for analysis, design and implementation of socio-economic programmes is thus a crucial requirement. The book is destined to become an essential handbook on the agricultural economy of Bangladesh.