Chap. No.

/Title Chapter 2/Comparative Economic Development

Case Study Comparative Economic Development : Pakistan and Bangladesh
No./TITLE

 Commonalities and Differences Between Bangladesh and Pakistan

 Determine the commonalities and differences between Bangladesh and Pakistan in terms of
the following identified characteristics of developing countries :
Bangladesh Pakistan

1. Level of Living Productivity Fertility level at 2.2, lower than Fertility level at 3.3, relatively
Pakistan thus higher lower compared to their
productivity levels. fertility level of 6 at 1971.

2. Levels of Human Capital Bangladesh has greater Because of Pakistan’s higher

3. Levels of Inequality
4. Population Growth Rates
5. Social Fractionalization
6. Rural Populations (Rural
–to Urban Migration)
7. Levels of Industrialization
and Manufactured Exports
8. Geography
9. Underdeveloped Markets
10. Colonial Impacts
human capital than Pakistan.
83% female to male literacy,
higher than Pakistan’s.
Population growth rate
1.35%.
Bangladesh is quite
homogenous; as much as
98% of its population speaks
the Bangla language.
The impressive role of
indigenous non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) fighting
poverty in rural areas.
After their independence, the
industry of Bangladesh was left industrial units and is leading
in shambles.
The population density of
Bangladesh as of December
2020 is 1239.58 people/km2;
Low access to affordable
power, poor infrastructure and
transportation, and limited
ability of serviced land.
Once the global symbol of
suffering, now a symbol of
hope.
population, budget for
education and health is
thinly spread.
Enrollment level of females
is less than 75% of the
males, indicating a larger
gender inequality than
Bangladesh.
of Population growth rate of
1.8%, higher than
Bangladesh’s.
Pakistan is much more
diverse than Bangladesh
with very high levels of
ethnic and language
diversity.
Dominance of large
landowners over tenants is
too apparent in rural
Pakistan.
Pakistan took over 34
above Bangladesh in terms
of manufactured exports.
Pakistan’s density is 287
people/km2
Underdeveloped financial
markets and instruments
and structural and policy
constraints.
William Easterly have declared
Pakistan a leading example of
“growth without development.”

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Chap. No./Title Chapter 2/Comparative Economic Development
Case Study Comparative Economic Development : Pakistan and Bangladesh
No./TITLE

 RECOMMENDATIONS
 What strategies or interventions can you recommend to Bangladesh and Pakistan to foster
economic growth and achieve economic development?

Recommended Strategies & Interventions

Development Problems
Bangladesh Pakistan

1. Human Development a. reform agricultural sectors a. reform agricultural sectors

a. Malnutrition to increase food supply and provide feeding programs
b. Child Labor lowering food prices. for malnourished children.
c. Education b. pass bills supporting b. pass bills supporting
families in extreme poverty families in extreme poverty
with family stipend. with family stipend.
c. support free tertiary c. support free tertiary
education for poverished education for poverished
students. students and advocate female
empowerment to abolish the
inequality in education
according to their gender.

2. Poverty Continue to create more job Continue to create more job

opportunities that will provide
for those under the poverty
line.
opportunities that will provide
for those under the poverty
line. Also provide family
stipend for those under the
extreme poverished families.

3. Inequality (income, land Advocate social equality Advocate social equality

and gender) especially gender. Also pass especially gender. Support
land reforms to evenly small local businesses for
distribute land properties their easier establishment to
especially to those in the even income distribution to
agricultural sector. the lower brackets of low-
income earners.

4. Population Growth Build more subsidiary homes Advocate the importance of

for the homeless and birth control and include in
advocate birth control. their curriculum sex
education.

5. Corruption Better distribution of powers in Pass harsher punishments for

their parliamentary those who practice grafts.
government.

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