Monzur Hossain

 

Senior Research Fellow

General Economics Division

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)

Public Policy Program (MA ’03); Ph.D. in International Economics (’07)

 

 

 

 

Please tell us about your career path so far. What is your area of specialization and how did you come to work in this area?

I am currently working as a Senior Research Fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), a premier and the oldest research institute in Bangladesh affiliated with the Ministry of Planning. While I was studying at GRIPS, I was affiliated with the Bangladesh Bank (central bank). After graduating from GRIPS having obtained my Ph.D. in International Economics in March 2007, I returned to my job in the Bangladesh Bank. However, after a few months I switched to academia and joined as Assistant Professor of Economics at a private university in Dhaka in late 2007. Since I have a strong desire to conduct research, in December 2008 I joined BIDS as a Research Fellow.

 

You are currently serving as Senior Research Fellow in the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies. What are your main roles and responsibilities?

With an extensive focus on economic policies, my research interests mainly concentrate towards Macroeconomics, International Trade and Finance, Local Government Finance, ICT sector, Industrial Development (RMG, SME etc.), Renewable Energy, and Banking and Financial Sector. My core responsibility is to conduct research on various aspects of development and contribute to informed policy making of the government. I contributed to the Sixth and Seventh Five-Year Plan of the Bangladesh government. We also do sponsored research. I have participated and served as team leader in numerous professional research projects. Among others, I served as consultant for the UNDP, ADB, UNCTAD, EU, International Growth Center, and the London School of Economics. In particular, I was involved in conducting performance assessments and impact evaluations for such organizations as UNDP, World Bank, Bangladesh Bank, BSCIC, SME Foundation, USAID and the Government of Japan. As part of research collaboration, I have international experiences of working with Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Tokyo, Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University, Japan, and the International Growth Center, London School of Economics. Recently I was a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), Chiba, Japan (January-March, 2020).

 

As a researcher, I have published extensively in internationally accredited journals including Economic Modelling, Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Applied Economics Letters, Journal of Asian Economics, Journal of Developing Areas, Local Government Studies, Bangladesh Development Studies. I have also contributed to various other edited volumes. Furthermore I have presented papers in many national and international conferences in the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore, India, Finland, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, and Hong Kong, to name just a few.

 

In your current capacity, what do you see as the main opportunities and challenges for Bangldesh over the course of the next five to ten years?

The economic progress of Bangladesh has been very impressive in the last decade, having a GDP growth rate of over 7 percent while the poverty rate has fallen to nearly 20 percent. However, income inequality has been rising too. Bangladesh is likely to graduate from LDC status in 2024. The main opportunity for Bangladesh is that it now enjoys a demographic dividend with over one-third of its population belonging to the 15-30 years age category. If the country can utilize this demographic dividend effectively, it is possible for Bangladesh to reduce the poverty faster and reach the intended developed country status by 2041. The main challenge for the government is thus to create proper employment opportunities for the youth by developing and implementing skills development programs and ensuring quality education. To sustain current higher growth trajectories and ensure inclusive growth, the bigger challenges for Bangladesh are to ensure good governance, and a more equitable society.

 

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work? And what have been the most interesting or rewarding aspects of your career thus far?

The challenge that I face in my career as a researcher at BIDS is to strike a balance between sponsored research and academic research. To explain this elaborately, I can say that we need to publish in peer reviewed international journals in order to progress our career, but at the same time we need to be involved in sponsored research, which eats most of our time. Even in most cases it is difficult to generate academic contributions from sponsored research because of their specific design and objectives. Despite the limitations, some of the rewarding aspects of my career are: I have led so far 50 research projects covering various development aspects of Bangladesh; I have published a significant number of articles and book chapters (about 50) in internationally accredited journals and edited volumes despite data and time limitations; I have recently edited a book titled “Bangladesh’s Macroeconomic Policy”, which was published by the prestigious publisher, Palgrave Macmillan; I have contributed to the government’s various policy documents such as Five-Year Plans; and finally and most importantly, some of our research has contributed to informed policy making. I often appear in various TV shows to discuss the country’s economic and development issues.

 

What led you to GRIPS? What was the most important thing you learned while here and how has your experience at GRIPS prepared you for future endeavours?

While I was at the Central Bank of Bangladesh, I applied for the GRIPS Master’s in Public Policy Program in 2002 and was eventually awarded admission with a Monbukagakusho scholarship. Studying at GRIPS has been a turning point in my career and profession. Since I was an employee of the central bank, I had an interest in economics and therefore I specialized in economics throughout my Masters and Ph.D. programs at GRIPS. Since Master’s in Public Policy at GRIPS was a blend of theory and practice with particular reference to the Japanese economy, it helped me to prepare myself for pursuing higher studies, such as a Ph.D. in Economics. I was fortunate to obtain my Ph.D. degree in International Economics in 2007 (March) under the supervision of the well-reputed Japanese economist Professor Kenichi Ohno. I also remember the contribution of other members of my Ph.D. committee in shaping up my academic career, namely the late Professor Yoichi Okita and Professor Kailiappa Kalirajan (who is currently affiliated with Australian National University). I have fond memories of Okita-sensei who guided me in my difficult stages of the Ph.D. program with his fatherly attitude. I also want to take this opportunity to thank all other faculty members and administrative staff, in particular Ms. Karin Hillen and Ms. Kimie Rhodes for their support and cooperation.

 

Have you had any involvement, professional or otherwise, with Japan since your graduation.

After my graduation, I was involved in several collaborative research projects with the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Tokyo and the Graduate School of International Studies (GSID) of Nagoya University, Japan. I was a Visiting Professor at GSID, Nagoya University during October-December, 2010. Recently, I was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), Chiba, Japan during January-March, 2020. I have also published several academic papers in reputed journals and book chapters with Japanese colleagues and attended several international seminars organized by ADBI.

 

 

How do you maintain a balance between your work and the rest of your life? And what is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?

When I remain busy with my research works, I have to work even at home at night in addition to office hours. Once I finish a research report or if there is a less load of research works, I try to spend time with my family members (my wife Farhana who happens to be a GRIPS alumnae and our two lovely daughters). Sometimes we go to restaurants for dinner or lunch and sometimes during vacations we go to visit tourist places inside or outside Bangladesh. At home I love to spend my time mainly by watching TV or movie.

   

What are some of your fondest memories of your time spent at GRIPS? And what do you miss about Japan?

I still miss my time in Odaiba while we stayed at the Tokyo International Exchange Center (TIEC) in 2002-2003. I also miss Misato danchi in Saitama where we (my family) used to live during my Ph.D. period. Recently, in February 2020 we visited both the places again when I was a visiting researcher at IDE-JETRO. I always feel Japan as my second home. I like Japanese people, Japanese food and their efficient system very much. I love to come to Japan, and therefore I don’t miss any opportunity whenever I get a chance to visit Japan.

 

If you could give one piece of advice to anyone considering studying at GRIPS what would it be?

GRIPS is a center of academic excellence with a team of internationally reputed faculty members.  So those who are interested in pursuing higher education with a particular focus on policy evaluation, development studies etc. might consider GRIPS as their first choice.

 

How would you like to maintain involved with the School? What do you expect from GRIPS as an alumnus and do you have any suggestions on how to further utilize the GRIPS alumni network?

I will be happy to be engaged in collaborative research or academic works with GRIPS faculty members if there is any such opportunity. Apart from that, as an alumnus, we try to remain updated with GRIPS events through online and the local alumni network. The GRIPS alumni network can organize seminars and symposiums in local countries to be vibrant and to make their contribution visible. GRIPS itself can organize some training programs or summer school type programs on applied issues for alumni who are involved in their home countries in different parts of the world. Even GRIPS may invite competent alumni in those programs as guest lecturers or trainers.