With increasing climate risks, Bangladesh needs to continue investments to strengthen climate resilience in the coastal zones to protect the development gains, says a new World Bank report. The report, “Bangladesh: Enhancing Coastal Resilience in a Changing Climate” highlights the country’s journey to reducing vulnerability to climate change and recommends further actions towards improving the resilience of its coastal region. It analyzes the drivers of risks, how the government has reduced these risks, and offers new perspective and innovative solutions.
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International Economics: IB Economics
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A collection of articles relating to the 'international' elements of Economics and relating to IB, Pre-U and A-Level Economics.
Curated by
Graham Watson
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For two decades, Bangladesh has achieved impressively-high rates of economic growth. This success is mainly due to the ready-made garment sector, where access to a large pool of workers has made the industry globally competitive. But the level of growth can’t last indefinitely. As Bangladesh becomes a middle-income country, labor costs will rise. Buyers will move to places where goods are produced more cheaply. And a lack of skilled managers, designers and other technical experts will further limit the country’s appeal. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made this outlook worse. So, what can Bangladesh do to sustain its economic growth?
Graham Watson's insight:
This is an excellent clip that looks at the reasons for Bangladesh's recent growth performance, and how it might look at sustaining this as it loses its low wage advantages.
Bangladesh is going to have to strengthen its investment in more advanced technologies and its managerial techniques. 
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Bangladeshi firm that made charity Spice Girls T-shirts also works with major UK retailers
Graham Watson's insight:
And here are those UK retailers using factories paying 35p per hour...
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Bangladesh achieved the Millennium Development Goal for access to water supply three years ahead of time. Now, 98 percent of Bangladeshis can access better water sources. Yet, the country faces a number of water challenges such as water quality, depleted ground water level, pollution, and low access to piped water in slums. While there’s still a long way to go to ensure clean water for all, everyone can help by changing their behaviors. In this effort, children are showing the way.
Graham Watson's insight:
What's true for Burkina Faso is also true for Bangladesh, although the latter achieved the MDG for access to water supply ahead of time.
This clip looks at how the issue remains a salient one for development - with the issue of waste key. It raises interesting questions too about the pricing of water, both in Bangladesh and globally.
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In Bangladesh, better cookstoves are changing lives by reducing the number of deaths caused by indoor air pollution and increasing fuel efficiency – let alone saving time and effort to cook meals.
Graham Watson's insight:
How many people are still reliant on traditional methods of cooking?
3 billion. Yes. Half of the world's population. And one of the simplest ways of improving cooking efficiency and reducing indoor air pollution and increasing fuel efficiency is to provide better stoves.
This clip highlights a World Bank scheme that has been successful in doing this in Bangladesh.
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The Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project is providing basic services and building disaster and social resilience for the displaced Rohingya people until their safe and voluntary return to Myanmar, as well as for the host communities in Cox’s Bazar. The Government of Bangladesh is implementing the project with support from The World Bank.
Graham Watson's insight:
This remarkable clip from the World Bank looks at how the group has acted in concert with the government of Bangladesh to build resilience among the displaced Rohingya refugees who've settled around Cox's Bazaar. Over 1 million refugees have settled in an area that used to be forest - and whilst development prospects aren't great, they are enhanced by this sort of humanitarian aid.
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Editorial: Globalised business networks make well-meaning shoppers complicit in the exploitation of workers they are trying to help
Graham Watson's insight:
And the Guardian editorial on the issue...
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Country offers cheap labour and manufacturing expertise – with often limited oversight
Graham Watson's insight:
G-Max, again: this Guardian piece looks at why wages in Bangladesh are so low, and whilst this is seemingly shocking, the underlying economics of this is more complicated.
In the first instance, Bangladesh is one of the most populous nations in the world, and it's labour force is low-skilled. Secondly, workers aren't coerced to work in these garment factories in most instances - it's a choice, and it represents a choice they've taken over all other available options. Thirdly, the cost of living in Bangladesh is remarkably low.
So whilst we'd want universal education and better working conditions in an ideal world, the reality is that this isn't going to happen.
However, if you do care about these issues, then you, as a consumer have the choice not to buy these items of clothing.
Katy Pineda's curator insight,
January 24, 2019 2:30 PM
Individuals in Bangladesh who are making the Spice Girls and Comic Relief shirts are being paid less than the local minimum wage. Bangladesh is such a popular area to operate because the individuals who are making the products are very skilled in clothing manufacturing and they offer cheap labor.
Unfortunately because they are getting paid so little, many workers feel the need to work overtime just to make ends meet. There are fire regulations and laws set in place but since there are so few inspectors, many inspections are not completed. The workers are aware of many issues but feel scared to report them due to retaliation.
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Bangladesh’s booming economy has increased the demand for electricity. To preserve the environment and power up isolated off-the-grid areas, the country has invested heavily in green energy through solar home systems, solar irrigation pumps, and solar mini-grids. Now, rural Bangladeshis can access round-the-clock cheap energy to run their businesses and lighten up their homes.
Graham Watson's insight:
This World Bank clip highlights the rapid growth of the Bangladeshi economy and the fact that it has been able to supply the necessary power for this via the fastest adoption of domestic solar power in the world.
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This UN clip looks at how climate change represents a fundamental threat to Bangladesh's developmental prospects, and how investment in enhancing climate resilience has made the coastal zone safer and help protect development.