Paths to Development: Is there a Bangladesh Surprise?

30 Pages Posted: 6 Nov 2013 Last revised: 2 Feb 2015

See all articles by M. Niaz Asadullah

M. Niaz Asadullah

University of Reading - Department of Economics; University of Malaya

Antonio Savoia

University of Manchester - Global Development Institute

Wahiduddin Mahmud

Economic Research Group

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: November 5, 2013

Abstract

Is Bangladesh’s development progress surprising, given its level of economic development? Using aggregate indices of education, health, demographic and gender equality outcomes, we empirically investigate the hypothesis that Bangladesh made exceptional gains in human development compared with countries with similar level of per capita income. Stylised facts and cross-country regression results indicate that, for a broad range of dimensions, there is a human development surplus. Further tests show that such surplus does not reflect the role of economic growth and public expenditure programmes. We conclude by speculating on the role of Bangladesh’s human development to sustain the process of growth and on the implications of governance and institutional quality for the nexus between growth and human development.

Keywords: BRAC, economic growth, human development, governance, institutions, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan

JEL Classification: O11, O20, O40, E60, H50

Suggested Citation

Asadullah, Mohammad Niaz and Savoia, Antonio and Mahmud, Wahiduddin, Paths to Development: Is there a Bangladesh Surprise? (November 5, 2013). Brooks World Poverty Institute Working Paper No. 189, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2350201 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2350201

Mohammad Niaz Asadullah (Contact Author)

University of Reading - Department of Economics ( email )

Reading, RG6 6AA
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.reading.ac.uk/economics/about/staff/m-asadullah.asp

University of Malaya ( email )

Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Malaysia

Antonio Savoia

University of Manchester - Global Development Institute ( email )

Arthur Lewis building
Oxford Road
Manchester, M13 9PL
United Kingdom

Wahiduddin Mahmud

Economic Research Group ( email )

House 342 DOHS Mohakhali
Dhaka, Road 25
Dhaka, 1206
Bangladesh

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