1. Term Paper for the course
ECO 502 (Advanced Macroeconomics)
“Macroeconomics Performance of Bangladesh since
Independence”
Submitted to
Dr. Mudabber Ahmed
Professor and Chairperson of Economics Department
Submitted by
Israt Jahan Nisha
ID 2014-1-88-003
Submission Date: 14.08.15
Department of Economics
East West University

2. Abstract
Bangladesh is one of the least developed countries. The economy of Bangladesh suffers from
both supply side and demand side problems. This study has been undertaken with a view to
investigate management of macro economic conditions of the country since its independence.
This paper aims at exploring what the country has achieved over the last forty years since
independence and what she missed. The paper uses data from different secondary sources such
as World Bank, United Nations, Bangladesh bank, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and so on.

3. Table of contents
Topics Page number
1. Introduction 1
2. Real Factor
2.1: Average growth rate of GDP 2-3
2.2 Sectoral Contributions to GDP Growth 3-4
2.3Trend of Structural Transformation of Broad SectoralShares in GDP 4
2.4 Consumption as Percent of GDP 5
2.5 Investment as Percent of GDP 5-6
2.6. Savings as Percent of GDP 6
2.7 Contributions to GDP 7
2.8 Inflation 8-10
3. Conclusion 10
4. Bibliography 11

4. 1. Introduction
There has been a huge economic progress in Bangladesh since its independence. None can dare
to call it a “bottomless basket” anymore. Rather many countries in the world borrow from this
basket. Nonetheless, it could have achieved much more had it utilized its labor force efficiently.
Lack of energy infrastructure and skill in our labor force may hold us flourishing at the pace we
desire. To accelerate economic growth and to sustain our economic progress, we need to control
our population growth, add skill to our labor force, conserve cultivable land, and mitigate
environmental pollution. To ensure improvements in these counts, good governance is essential.
The objective of this term paper is to have an overview on nature, motion, prospect and
limitations of macroeconomic scenario prevailing in the country with various information of
different sectors of economy and their analytical results. Recommendations as regards to tax
calculations, fund allocation, and ensuing transparency and accountability of public fund for
ensuing national budget are also the objectives of this term paper. This paper has emphasized on
the nature of macroeconomic performance of the country since independence. To get such nature
and motion, the information has been compared in some cases year to year, in some cases as a
whole four to five years.
The economic policy of a country represents economic growth, full employment, price stability
and balance of payment stability. This paper is represented the economic policy through
assessing different macroeconomic indicators.

5. 2. Real sector:
2.1: Average growth rate of GDP:
The table 2.1 shows the growth rate based on 5-year average and table 2.2 shows the growth
rate over the decades, where base year of real GDP in both tables are 1995-96 and measure
the compound growth of GDP.
It is observed that:
 During the first decade after independence average GDP growth more or less
remained below 4%. Since the late eighties it started moving upward.
 In the nineties it grew at an average rate of 5%, between fiscal year 2001-2005 the
economy posted an average growth rate of 5.4%.
 During the period 2006-2008, it grew at an average rate of 6.4%.
Commonly held belief is that Bangladesh could reach even a higher growth trajectory provided
the growth constraints be kept to a minimum. The major constraints include:
o poor governance
o rampant corruption
o infrastructural bottlenecks (electricity, energy shortage, poor sea and airport
management, crowded roads)

6. o underdeveloped financial markets,
o inefficient bureaucracy
o failure to attract FDI.
2.2: Sectoral Contributions to GDP Growth (Based on 5-Year Average):
The figure 2.2 shows the sectoral contributions to GDP growth based on 5-year average, where
compound growth is measured, but for 2005-06 to 2007-08, it is 3-year compound growth.
 The growth in the agriculture sector showed decreasing trend during 1980-81 to 1994-95,
but the sector grew almost at an average rate of 5% during 1995-96 to 1999-2000; fell to
2.5% average growth during 2000-01 to 2004-05 period but over the last three years it
grew at average rate of 4.4%. ƒ
 The GDP growth was largely propelled by the industry sector which has exhibited
average growth rates in excess of GDP growth over the entire period. Over the last three
years, it grew at an average rate of 8.3%. ƒ

7.  Since the early nineties, growth in the service sector has been showing an increasing
trend and over the last three years, it grew by 6.7% on average. ƒ
 The key to the growth of Bangladesh economy lies in more industrialization with
realising the fullest potentials of agricultural sector.
2.3 Trend of Structural Transformation of Broad Sectoral Shares in GDP (at
Constant Prices):
Note: Sectoral share for 1972-73 to 1978-79 have been converted to the 1995-96 GDP series
by backward calculation.
The key findings include:
 While in the early seventies, the share of the agriculture sector to GDP was more than
38%, it fell to 21% by 2007-08. ƒ
 In contrast, the share of the industry sector rose from only 15.5% in 1972-73 to
around 30% in 2007-08. ƒ
 The largest sector of the economy is the service sector, representing about half of
GDP. Its share has remained relatively stable over time, representing about 46% of
GDP in the early seventies and has remained within the range of 48% to 50% since. ƒ
 There has been a considerable shift from agriculture sector to the industry sector.

8. 2.4 Consumption as Percent of GDP (Based on 5-Year Average):
Figure 2.4 shows that: ƒ
 Total consumption as percent of GDP fell by 9 percentage points during 1980-81 to
2007-08. ƒ
 During this period, private consumption fell by 10 percentage points, while public
consumption increased slightly above 1 percentage point.
2.5 Investment as Percent of GDP (Based on 5-Year Average):
Figure 2.5 shows that: ƒ

9.  Investment remained stagnated during the eighties ƒ
 It started picking up from the early nineties backed by private investment while there was
a declining trend in public investment. ƒ
 While the shift in investment is conducive for a private sector-led growth, public sector
investment for infrastructure and human capital is critical for sustaining economic growth
and putting Bangladesh economy on a higher growth path. To achieve double-digit
growth, the investment-to GDP ratio needs to be increased to about 30% of GDP.
2.6. Savings as Percent of GDP (Based on 5-Year Average):
Figure 2.6 shows the savings patterns within the economy. The key findings include: ƒ
 From 1990 to 1995, the average domestic savings and national savings stood at 13.3%
and 18.9% respectively; during the last three years the domestic savings grew to 20.2%
and the national savings 28.6% on an average. ƒ
 The mobilisation of further domestic resources and transforming national savings into
investible surpluses are critical for the growth of the economy.

10. 2.7 Contributions to GDP (As Percent of GDP):
Figure 2.7 shows that: ƒ
 The largest component of GDP is consumption. Since 1980-81 there has been a secular
decline of consumption as percent of GDP. ƒ
 In contrast, the share of investment went up from 17.6% in 1980-81 to 24.2% in 2007-08.
 Export as percent of GDP was 4.1% in 1980-19981 and it went up to 16.0 % in 2007-08.
 Likewise import as percent of GDP was 13.3% in 1980-81 and went up to 27.4% in
2007-08.

11. 2.8 Inflation
2.8.1 Trend in Inflation (Annual Percent Change):
Figure 2.8.1 shows the historical trend of inflation in Bangladesh: ƒ
 Inflation fell dramatically in the late eighties inflation from the double-digit increases
recorded in the mid 1980s. It dropped to single-digit year-over-year increases. ƒ
 In 1990-91, 1994-95, 1997-98 spikes in the trend line were above 8% which were driven
by the natural calamities and supply shocks. ƒ
 In 2000-01, annual inflation rate came down to its lowest point of below 2%, mainly due
to lower prices of food items, but has been on an upward path since then. In 2007-08, it
again touched two-digit rate largely the result of rising international prices of fertilizers,
fuel and foods, higher business cost due to corruption and malgovernance.

12. 2.8.2 Trend in Food and Non-Food Inflation at National Level:
Figure 2.8.2 shows that: ƒ
 The inflation in Bangladesh is basically food price induced. The high rate of inflation is
accompanied by higher food inflation than non-food inflation. The high inflation rate in
1997-98 is the result of the catastrophic country-wide flood which caused a heavy
damage of agricultural production.
2.8.3 Monthly Rate of Inflation (Point-to-Point):

13. Figure 2.8.3 shows that: ƒ
 Although there was a spike in the inflation rate at the beginning of 2007-08, due to both
food and non-food prices, it since fallen, primarily due to the fall in prices of food, fuel
and fertilizers commodities in the international market.
3. Conclusion:
Since independence Bangladesh has made commendable progress in various macroeconomic and
social development indicators which is reflected in various development indexes of World Bank
and the United Nations. However, we could have achieved much more had we utilized the full
potential of our labor force. On the basis of analytical results of various economic parameters as
mentioned above it can be said that Bangladesh is a country of steady and sustainable growth.
GDP growth rate is on an average 6% to 7%. Poverty level is in declining trend. Bangladesh’s
strong growth and success in poverty alleviation have also attracted the international
communities’ attention. But as a growing country despite having a steady growth there are also
some shortcomings regarding full employment, monetary policy and price stability. To make the
economic growth more dynamic, to protect the high rate of inflation, to reduce the inequality of
the society steps may be taken to increase the share of direct tax. For increasing the share of
direct tax new tax payers need to be identified. It is pertinent to mention that five percent of high
income level people are holding almost 27% of GDP. To keep the inflation within the tolerable
range through controlling the demand pull inflation the annual money and credit growth may be
consistent with the growth rate of commodities.

14. 4. Bibliography:
1. Ali, MM and Medhakar, A. January 2012. “Management of Macro Economic Performance of
Bangladesh: An Empirical Analysis”, International Review of Business Research Papers.
Volume 8 No. 1. Pp 64-83.
2. Center for Policy Dialogue. “Analytical Review of Bangladesh’s Macroeconomic
Performance in Fiscal Year 2014”.
3. FCA, Hossain, SM. 2015. “An Analysis on Macroeconomic Performance of Bangladesh.”
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh
4. Helal, M and Hossain, MA. 2013. “Four Decades of Economic Development of Bangladesh:
An Assessment”, Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Volume 58(2), PP 335-362.