K. Murshid - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by K. Murshid
The Bangladesh Development Studies
This is an exploratory exercise that attempts to identify the potential for carrying out online s... more This is an exploratory exercise that attempts to identify the potential for carrying out online socio-economic surveys in Bangladesh, taking the question of “educated unemployment” as a test case. The topic is of great interest not just in Bangladesh but also throughout South Asia and beyond, where the issue is of particular concern in the context of rapid growth and rising aspirations amongst young people. Most studies depend either on own data generation or periodic national level surveys like the Labour Force Surveys (LFS). The former consists of small datasets, while the latter have a limited number of relevant variables available for analysis. Thus, easier access to larger datasets with better coverage of variables would be a highly welcome additional resource for researchers and policymakers. It was, in fact, possible to rapidly generate a large volume of data using an online platform (Facebook) for this exercise. The data validation approach used here is to compare findings w...
Since the 1990s there has been increasing concern in the North about products from the South and ... more Since the 1990s there has been increasing concern in the North about products from the South and the conditions under which they are produced. In least developed countries labour conditions are considered to be at a very low level. Ethical trading initiatives, where importers impose codes of conduct on producers supplying Northern markets, are aiming at improving working conditions in factories in the South. This study uses the example of the ready made garment sector in Bangladesh to go through and evaluate the process of codes implementation. It also looks at the impact of ethical trading initiatives in Bangladesh. Based on interviews with Bangladeshi producers and importers with experience from Bangladesh, the study produces a set of recommendations for codes implementation. This includes the process of elaborating and presenting the codes, auditing the firms and making a corrective plan. In Bangladesh ethical trading has had a positive impact on the workers in factories that are...
Innovative Institutions, Public Policies and Private Strategies for Agro-Enterprise Development, 2014
Director, respectively, at the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI). The views presente... more Director, respectively, at the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI). The views presented in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARTNeT members, partners and the United Nations. This study was conducted as part of the Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT) initiative, aimed at building regional trade policy and facilitation research capacity in developing countries.
An academic directory and search engine.
Instability in foodgrain production is generally attributed to weather variables, not an unreason... more Instability in foodgrain production is generally attributed to weather variables, not an unreasonable assumption in the context of large, traditional agricultural systems. The diffusion of the new seed-fertilizer- water technology has introduced a new element to traditional agriculture. Its impact on instability to date has not been great. A higher rate of adoption and diffusion of this technology, however, is likely to generate further instability, so that it is important to recognize this potential hazard and attempt to remedy certain unresolved problems associated with it in Bangladesh, if costly adjustments are to be avoided.
El abastecimiento de agua en Bangladesh oscila entre dos extremos: la abundancia y la escasez. Co... more El abastecimiento de agua en Bangladesh oscila entre dos extremos: la abundancia y la escasez. Con la densidad mas alta de poblacion rural en el mundo, el pais encara agudos problemas no solo en cuanto a un abastecimiento suficiente de agua, sino tambien a problemas de calidad del agua y enfermedades relacionadas al saneamiento. Desde 1972, con la ayuda del UNICEF, Bangladesh ha estado promoviendo una campana masiva de aprovisionamiento de agua potable al 93 por ciento de la poblacion residente en areas rurales. Por ello sera uno de los pocos paises del tercer mundo que alcance el objetivo fijado por las Naciones Unidas para la Decada del Agua
This study was financed under the Research Grants Scheme (RGS) of the National Food Policy Capaci... more This study was financed under the Research Grants Scheme (RGS) of the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP). The purpose of the RGS was to assist in improving research and dialogue within civil society so as to inform and enrich the implementation ...
This paper explores the unaddressed question of how the large, complex paddy-rice market in Bangl... more This paper explores the unaddressed question of how the large, complex paddy-rice market in Bangladesh is able to solve the problem of complex exchange, faced by the dominant rice millers and brokers (aratdars) who face the most complex risks. It explores agency issues in exchange resolved by intermediaries, and points to norms and trusts within trading networks that underpin these. It notes significant but opposing trends over two decades in different areas, particularly in terms of market structure, trade circuits and exchange relations. Evidence of a sharp decline in tied transactions points to the growing importance of impersonal exchange.
Contract Number: 388-C-OO-97-00028-00 * Research Director, BIDS and Consultant, FMRSP The views e... more Contract Number: 388-C-OO-97-00028-00 * Research Director, BIDS and Consultant, FMRSP The views expressed in this report are those ofthe author and do not necessarily reflect the officialposition ofthe Government ofBangladesh or USAID. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author is deeply indebted to Md. Shahjahan Mia for providing excellent field research support. The comments received from Paul Dorosh, Ismail Hossain and a numbers ofworkshop participants on an earlier draft are generally acknowledged. 11
The household panel data enabled detailed comparisons in living standards and livelihood conditio... more The household panel data enabled detailed comparisons in living standards and livelihood conditions for the same set of households over a span of more than ten years. These changes are related to complex forces. There are, thus, considerable difficulties in trying to isolate the impact of the various SAPs on food security or poverty. A participatory approach combined with a logframe analysis was attempted in this connection.
South-South Ideas Report, 2019
The key findings presented in this report are as follows: • The EZ programme is met with enthusia... more The key findings presented in this report are as follows:
• The EZ programme is met with enthusiasm by the Bangladeshi private sector,
• Since no public EZ had begun operations, the scoping-visit team concluded that it is too early to include the BEZA programme in the M&E programme. BEZA-led zones are slower to develop than private ones. The EZ programme is still at a very early stage of development: rules are still being drafted and although 59 public projects have been approved, none have become operational. Nevertheless, the approach being taken in Bangladesh is of interest and should be followed in the international
community.
• The comparative analysis of SEZ development in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh unveils some stylized facts of relevance for lesson-sharing with other countries interested in SEZs. It found that in those countries, SEZs have been successful when: (a) articulated within a broader economic strategy enjoying political commitment; (b) supported with a dedicated policy and governance framework; and (c) implemented transparently and adaptively. As demonstrated by the Indian case in particular, transparent rules taking into account all stakeholders are important
to preserve public interest and ensure the sustainability of the programme. If adjustments are needed, regulators may face the challenge of correcting imbalances without stifling zone development or lessening political commitment for the programme.
• Chinese SEZs can inspire programmes of other countries by their capacity to find
innovative structures and evolve along with economic transformation. Chinese SEZs
were first introduced as a test ground for liberal policies in a planned economy. Today they retain an exceptional level of regulatory autonomy. Over the years, China kept experimenting with the concept of the SEZ itself, introducing various types of zones to prepare the country for evolving economic challenges. Chinese industries and experienced zone developers are now looking overseas. Whether through general inspiration for a programme design, FDI in zones or direct involvement in their development, the influence of SEZs with Chinese characteristics on programmes of other countries is poised to grow.
Journal of Development Studies, 1997
This essay addresses the problem of transition from a personalised exchange regime (that characte... more This essay addresses the problem of transition from a personalised exchange regime (that characterises most LDCs) to the more impersonal form of exchange that marks advanced market economies. This debate has received impetus from the discussion launched by Platteau [1994] in the pages of this journal, where he seeks to clarify the social conditions that allow the market system to evolve. While the role of private and public order institutions in generating market order is recognised, this is regarded as inadequate, necessitating the invocation of ‘generalised morality’ (GM) to complete the explanation. It is argued here that GM does not need to be invoked. The article pleads for taking a closer look at the historical role of risk‐bearing institutions, especially financial institutions. Evidence from the Bangladesh rice market is adduced in support of the contention that there exist elements even within a ‘traditional’ exchange regime that can evolve into modern, impersonal forms. This is brought out by examining some regional contrasts.
Frontiers of Economics and Globalization, 2016
The Bangladesh Development Studies
This is an exploratory exercise that attempts to identify the potential for carrying out online s... more This is an exploratory exercise that attempts to identify the potential for carrying out online socio-economic surveys in Bangladesh, taking the question of “educated unemployment” as a test case. The topic is of great interest not just in Bangladesh but also throughout South Asia and beyond, where the issue is of particular concern in the context of rapid growth and rising aspirations amongst young people. Most studies depend either on own data generation or periodic national level surveys like the Labour Force Surveys (LFS). The former consists of small datasets, while the latter have a limited number of relevant variables available for analysis. Thus, easier access to larger datasets with better coverage of variables would be a highly welcome additional resource for researchers and policymakers. It was, in fact, possible to rapidly generate a large volume of data using an online platform (Facebook) for this exercise. The data validation approach used here is to compare findings w...
Since the 1990s there has been increasing concern in the North about products from the South and ... more Since the 1990s there has been increasing concern in the North about products from the South and the conditions under which they are produced. In least developed countries labour conditions are considered to be at a very low level. Ethical trading initiatives, where importers impose codes of conduct on producers supplying Northern markets, are aiming at improving working conditions in factories in the South. This study uses the example of the ready made garment sector in Bangladesh to go through and evaluate the process of codes implementation. It also looks at the impact of ethical trading initiatives in Bangladesh. Based on interviews with Bangladeshi producers and importers with experience from Bangladesh, the study produces a set of recommendations for codes implementation. This includes the process of elaborating and presenting the codes, auditing the firms and making a corrective plan. In Bangladesh ethical trading has had a positive impact on the workers in factories that are...
Innovative Institutions, Public Policies and Private Strategies for Agro-Enterprise Development, 2014
Director, respectively, at the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI). The views presente... more Director, respectively, at the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI). The views presented in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARTNeT members, partners and the United Nations. This study was conducted as part of the Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT) initiative, aimed at building regional trade policy and facilitation research capacity in developing countries.
An academic directory and search engine.
Instability in foodgrain production is generally attributed to weather variables, not an unreason... more Instability in foodgrain production is generally attributed to weather variables, not an unreasonable assumption in the context of large, traditional agricultural systems. The diffusion of the new seed-fertilizer- water technology has introduced a new element to traditional agriculture. Its impact on instability to date has not been great. A higher rate of adoption and diffusion of this technology, however, is likely to generate further instability, so that it is important to recognize this potential hazard and attempt to remedy certain unresolved problems associated with it in Bangladesh, if costly adjustments are to be avoided.
El abastecimiento de agua en Bangladesh oscila entre dos extremos: la abundancia y la escasez. Co... more El abastecimiento de agua en Bangladesh oscila entre dos extremos: la abundancia y la escasez. Con la densidad mas alta de poblacion rural en el mundo, el pais encara agudos problemas no solo en cuanto a un abastecimiento suficiente de agua, sino tambien a problemas de calidad del agua y enfermedades relacionadas al saneamiento. Desde 1972, con la ayuda del UNICEF, Bangladesh ha estado promoviendo una campana masiva de aprovisionamiento de agua potable al 93 por ciento de la poblacion residente en areas rurales. Por ello sera uno de los pocos paises del tercer mundo que alcance el objetivo fijado por las Naciones Unidas para la Decada del Agua
This study was financed under the Research Grants Scheme (RGS) of the National Food Policy Capaci... more This study was financed under the Research Grants Scheme (RGS) of the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP). The purpose of the RGS was to assist in improving research and dialogue within civil society so as to inform and enrich the implementation ...
This paper explores the unaddressed question of how the large, complex paddy-rice market in Bangl... more This paper explores the unaddressed question of how the large, complex paddy-rice market in Bangladesh is able to solve the problem of complex exchange, faced by the dominant rice millers and brokers (aratdars) who face the most complex risks. It explores agency issues in exchange resolved by intermediaries, and points to norms and trusts within trading networks that underpin these. It notes significant but opposing trends over two decades in different areas, particularly in terms of market structure, trade circuits and exchange relations. Evidence of a sharp decline in tied transactions points to the growing importance of impersonal exchange.
Contract Number: 388-C-OO-97-00028-00 * Research Director, BIDS and Consultant, FMRSP The views e... more Contract Number: 388-C-OO-97-00028-00 * Research Director, BIDS and Consultant, FMRSP The views expressed in this report are those ofthe author and do not necessarily reflect the officialposition ofthe Government ofBangladesh or USAID. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author is deeply indebted to Md. Shahjahan Mia for providing excellent field research support. The comments received from Paul Dorosh, Ismail Hossain and a numbers ofworkshop participants on an earlier draft are generally acknowledged. 11
The household panel data enabled detailed comparisons in living standards and livelihood conditio... more The household panel data enabled detailed comparisons in living standards and livelihood conditions for the same set of households over a span of more than ten years. These changes are related to complex forces. There are, thus, considerable difficulties in trying to isolate the impact of the various SAPs on food security or poverty. A participatory approach combined with a logframe analysis was attempted in this connection.
South-South Ideas Report, 2019
The key findings presented in this report are as follows: • The EZ programme is met with enthusia... more The key findings presented in this report are as follows:
• The EZ programme is met with enthusiasm by the Bangladeshi private sector,
• Since no public EZ had begun operations, the scoping-visit team concluded that it is too early to include the BEZA programme in the M&E programme. BEZA-led zones are slower to develop than private ones. The EZ programme is still at a very early stage of development: rules are still being drafted and although 59 public projects have been approved, none have become operational. Nevertheless, the approach being taken in Bangladesh is of interest and should be followed in the international
community.
• The comparative analysis of SEZ development in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh unveils some stylized facts of relevance for lesson-sharing with other countries interested in SEZs. It found that in those countries, SEZs have been successful when: (a) articulated within a broader economic strategy enjoying political commitment; (b) supported with a dedicated policy and governance framework; and (c) implemented transparently and adaptively. As demonstrated by the Indian case in particular, transparent rules taking into account all stakeholders are important
to preserve public interest and ensure the sustainability of the programme. If adjustments are needed, regulators may face the challenge of correcting imbalances without stifling zone development or lessening political commitment for the programme.
• Chinese SEZs can inspire programmes of other countries by their capacity to find
innovative structures and evolve along with economic transformation. Chinese SEZs
were first introduced as a test ground for liberal policies in a planned economy. Today they retain an exceptional level of regulatory autonomy. Over the years, China kept experimenting with the concept of the SEZ itself, introducing various types of zones to prepare the country for evolving economic challenges. Chinese industries and experienced zone developers are now looking overseas. Whether through general inspiration for a programme design, FDI in zones or direct involvement in their development, the influence of SEZs with Chinese characteristics on programmes of other countries is poised to grow.
Journal of Development Studies, 1997
This essay addresses the problem of transition from a personalised exchange regime (that characte... more This essay addresses the problem of transition from a personalised exchange regime (that characterises most LDCs) to the more impersonal form of exchange that marks advanced market economies. This debate has received impetus from the discussion launched by Platteau [1994] in the pages of this journal, where he seeks to clarify the social conditions that allow the market system to evolve. While the role of private and public order institutions in generating market order is recognised, this is regarded as inadequate, necessitating the invocation of ‘generalised morality’ (GM) to complete the explanation. It is argued here that GM does not need to be invoked. The article pleads for taking a closer look at the historical role of risk‐bearing institutions, especially financial institutions. Evidence from the Bangladesh rice market is adduced in support of the contention that there exist elements even within a ‘traditional’ exchange regime that can evolve into modern, impersonal forms. This is brought out by examining some regional contrasts.
Frontiers of Economics and Globalization, 2016