৪৯তম বিসিএস ⎯ অর্থনীতি [৩৩১]

⇒ In some parts of Bangladesh, religious and social prejudices still exist—such as opposition to family planning. Lack of awareness about family planning and the tendency to have boys fuel population growth. Many families view children as a “gift from God” and avoid birth control, which puts pressure on the population in the long run.

⇒ Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. On average, more than 1300 people live per square km. Such a dense population puts pressure on the environment, education, health, housing and food security. This density is a major reason behind the shortage of agricultural land, traffic congestion and increasing poverty. Population density = (Total population) / (Total area).

⇒ Excess population puts immense pressure on the education sector. If every child does not get appropriate schools, teachers and textbooks, the right to  education is disrupted. The quality of education decreases, dropouts increase and an unskilled population is created. As a result, productivity in the economy decreases and unemployment increases.

⇒ ‘Population Bomb’ refers to a situation where the population increases uncontrollably, creating a serious crisis in natural resources, food, water, housing, healthcare and employment. This can cause poverty, hunger, environmental pollution and political instability in the society.

⇒ Per capita income = national income ÷ population. If national income increases but population increases at a higher rate than that, per capita income decreases. Decrease in per capita income reduces the standard of living of the people and hinders overall development. This is also one of the reasons for increasing poverty.

⇒ Family planning makes birth control easier, which plays an important role in population control. Raising awareness by using various methods including condoms, pills, injections, etc. can reduce the birth rate. In addition, it is possible to encourage the tendency to keep families small by increasing women's education and employment opportunities.

⇒ Disguised unemployment occurs when a large number of people are engaged in a job, but even if no one is there, production does not decrease. Even if all family members work in rural agriculture, they are not fully productive. This reduces the level of real productivity and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

⇒ In Bangladesh, a large number of highly educated young people enter the labor market every year, but they do not find work suitable for their qualifications. The main reasons for this are skill shortages, lack of creative sectors, and the gap between academic education and the job market.
​- As a result, frustration and mental stress increase among the educated.

⇒ Lack of work during the agricultural crop season Explanation: Seasonal unemployment is usually seen in agriculturally dependent areas, where there is work during certain seasons, and unemployment occurs at other times. For example, there is work during the rice planting and harvesting seasons, and there is a shortage of work at other times. Alternative employment or agro-based factories can be helpful in solving this unemployment. 

⇒ The International Labour Organization (ILO) collects and analyzes data on labor, employment, and labor rights worldwide. According to the ILO definition, people of working age who are looking for work but cannot find it are identified as unemployed. ILO information plays an important role in the country's policymaking.

⇒ Entrepreneurship creation means creating jobs yourself and giving jobs to others. If young people in Bangladesh can be given training, credit support and policy facilities like making them entrepreneurs, they can create new jobs. This not only reduces unemployment, but also accelerates self-employment and the economic cycle.

⇒ When unemployment increases, people's income decreases, resulting in a decrease in the standard of living. Long-term unemployment increases social diseases such as depression, drug addiction, crime and theft. It also has a negative impact on political instability, social security and good governance. Therefore, its remedy is urgent.

⇒ Income inequality creates a gap between the rich and the poor in society. When one part of the society is greatly enriched in wealth, while the other part fails to meet even basic needs, social instability is created. Anger, rebellion and criminality increase among the deprived population. Political stability is also disrupted.

⇒ Advanced technology benefits highly skilled workers more, while less skilled workers fall behind. As a result, income inequality increases. Although this favors technology-based capital, income in labor-based sectors decreases. Sometimes automated technology also causes job losses.

⇒ A Gini Coefficient value of 0 indicates complete income equality and a Gini value of 1 indicates extreme income inequality. A Gini value of 0.6 in a country means that there is a huge gap in income distribution between the rich and the poor. This threatens social, political and economic balance.

⇒ A progressive tax system where higher taxes are imposed on high-income earners is effective in reducing income inequality. In Bangladesh, tax evasion, limited income tax coverage, and undisclosed income in the informal sector increase income inequality. Effective and fair tax policies play an important role in reducing inequality. 

⇒ Gender inequality refers to differences in access to education, employment, healthcare, leadership, or resources between women and men. In Bangladesh, women do not receive equal wages despite working in many fields. Sexual harassment in the workplace, lack of recognition of domestic work deepens gender inequality.

⇒ When women do not get appropriate opportunities according to their skills, a large part of the economy remains inactive. This reduces productivity, reduces national income and harms growth. Equal participation of women can strengthen the economy, otherwise sustainable development is not possible.

⇒ Education and awareness are essential for women's empowerment. Increasing women's education increases their access to employment, participation in family decision-making, and social status. In addition, legal protection helps establish women's rights. Enforcement of the law is important to ensure safety and equal pay in the workplace.

⇒ Although women's participation in garments and primary education is significant in Bangladesh, the number of women in technology, engineering, banking, or decision-making positions is still low. This is due to gender-based occupational barriers, social mindsets, and corporate infrastructure. Encouraging women in STEM subjects can reduce this disparity.

⇒ Budget looting is the embezzlement of state funds or development budget funds, which is a serious form of institutional corruption. It is tantamount to stealing the wealth of the general public and is the main cause of service deprivation. As a result of such corruption, economic progress is hampered, poverty increases and citizen trust is undermined.

⇒ Corruption destroys people's trust in the state, administration and law. When people see that services cannot be provided without bribes or that criminals are not brought to justice, they lose trust in the state structure. As a result, social order and morality break down, which affects state stability.

⇒ Transparency International publishes its Corruption Perceptions Index every year. Bangladesh's position is often towards the bottom, which reflects corruption, lack of transparency, and weak accountability in the public sector. This negatively affects foreign investment and foreign aid.

⇒ The Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh is an autonomous organization whose main responsibility is to investigate corruption, investigate and file cases against the accused. This organization investigates various illegal activities including bribery, embezzlement, and irregularities. Although its role is important in establishing transparency, there is also criticism about its effectiveness. 

⇒ The most effective way to combat corruption is not just punishment, but also the formation of transparent and accountable institutions. Administrative transparency, e-governance, service digitalization, and independent media help reduce corruption. Corruption decreases when the public knows the accounts of services and expenses.

⇒ Social inequality means that some people in society are getting all the benefits while the rest are deprived. This inequality creates and maintains poverty. 
​- For example, those who do not have higher education, healthcare and economic opportunities cannot get out of poverty. As a result, poverty continues from generation to generation.

⇒ Using HCR or Head Count Ratio, it is possible to understand what percentage of the total population of a country is living below the poverty line. The Bangladesh government and international organizations use this indicator to determine the spread of poverty. It is also helpful in measuring the progress of economic development.

⇒ Without education and skills, people cannot use good jobs or the income tax system. At the same time, if there is no employment, there is no income, resulting in poverty. Training, job creation and expansion of education are absolutely necessary to reduce poverty.

⇒ Temporary assistance or donations cannot eliminate poverty. Rather, skill development and self-employment make people self-reliant, so that they have sustainable income opportunities. This makes it possible to get rid of poverty permanently. Technical and technological training of youth plays a big role in this.

⇒ The first goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is “to eradicate poverty in all its forms”. To achieve this goal, governments and international organizations are implementing various programs—such as social security, income-enhancing programs, and food security—which are the foundation for building a poverty-free society.