Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Report - Labor Market Afghanistan (AREU Sep 14)

Two writers have published a report entitled "Gender, youth, and urban labour market participation: evidence from the tailoring sector in Kabul, Afghanistan", posted on the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU), dated September 2014. This study is about understanding how labour markets actually work in insecure and dynamic contexts. In the research the study examines the Kabul tailoring labour market and sets out to help us understand what a 'good jobs agenda' might actually look like.

The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) is an independent research organization based in Kabul. AREU's mission is to inform and influence policy and practice by conducting high-quality, policy-relevant research and actively disseminating the results, and to promote a culture of research and learning. AREU engages policymakers, civil society, researchers and students to promote the use of AREU's research and its library. An abstract of the report is below:
"The creation of good jobs and decent work in conflict-affected places is widely seen to generate not just better-off households, but also safer societies and more legitimate states. However, so much of the good jobs agenda is dominated by technical approaches more concerned with balancing out supply and demand than with serious analysis of the role of institutions, identity and power in mediating access to opportunities".

Friday, September 19, 2014

Afghanistan Needs Emergency Money Bailout

The Afghan government has asked for an emergency bailout of U.S. money - to the tune of $537 million within "five or six days" so it can continue to pay its bills. Read more in "Afghan official says the government has nearly run out of money, needs U.S. bailout", The Washington Post, September 16, 2014.

Investment in Agriculture Key to Afghan Unemployment Problem

Afghanistan's economy has grown tremendously in recent years but this growth has not fixed the unemployment problem. There are many young workers who do not have a job. One possible remedy is increased investment in the agricultural sector - resulting in increased employment opportunities. Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy and much can be done to increase employment in this field. Some investment ideas include better water management, refrigerated warehouses for farm produce, and improving the transportation system. Read more in "Afghanistan needs to address unemployment problem", Central Asia Online, September 13, 2014.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Post-2014 Economy and Afghan Women

Concerns are arising about the fate of Afghan women as the post-2014 era comes closer. In December 2014 the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will pull out either completely or leaving behind a very small force. With the withdrawal of ISAF goes the leverage and influence that the NATO partners have over the Afghan government and the Afghan society. Women have benefited tremendously after the Taliban regime was swept away. ISAF and the international community have poured millions of dollars to improve the plight of Afghan women in context of education, medical, education and other aspects of life in Afghanistan. Read more in "Afghan women and the post-2014 economy", DEVEX, January 21, 2014.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Afghan Government Revenues Fall Short

The effect of Afghanistan's economy slowing down has caused the domestic government revenues to fall short by 20%. Read more in "Afghan government revenues 20 percent short of target", Reuters, January 5, 2014.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Afghan Economy Suffers Due to Karzai's Statement on Bilateral Security Agreement

The Afghan economy has suffered since the Loya Jirga when Karzai said he would not sign the Bilateral Security Agreement. Investments have slowed and real estate transactions have scaled back dramatically. Read more in "Uncertainty Over Security Pact Drives Final Nail into Afghan Bubble", Voice of America, December 18, 2013.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Afghan Economy Looks Okay Says USAID Advisor

A Senior Economic Advisor who works for the USAID Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs stated in a recent online article in the Huffington Post (Feb 24, 2013) that the Afghan economy will survive the departure of the international presence (with its deep pockets). She believes that Afghans will find a way to make the economy survive as we edge towards 2014. Read more in "Economic Resilience in Afghanistan".

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Afghan Middle Class in Kabul Worries about Future

The influx of billions of dollars into Afghanistan by donor nations has created wealth for a small segment of Afghan society. The capital of Afghanistan - Kabul - has grown to 5 million people, many who moved to Kabul to try and get a piece of the economic pie. Some Kabul residents have done well but that comfortable life may very well fall apart in the next few years. Read more in "Fears of the Future Haunt a Budding Generation of Afghan Strivers", The New York Times, February 11, 2013.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Billions of Dollars Leave Afghanistan Every Year for Foreign Banks

Billions of dollars leave Afghanistan every year for foreign bank accounts. The uncertain future and insecurity in the country has been a deciding factor in the movement of large amounts of money from Afghanistan to places like Dubai where the Afghan elite have purchased expensive villas. With its weak financial institutions, rampant corruption, and poor oversight of aid money provided to the Afghan government it is very easy to move money out of the country. Read more in "Insecurity threatens Afghanistan with economic crisis", Chicago Tribune, March 12, 2012.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Afghanistan's Economy Beyond 2014 - A Big Question Mark

While many observers are worried about the security situation in Afghanistan after 2014 (date of withdrawal of the coalition forces) others are concerned about the economy of Afghanistan.  The Afghan economy is heavily dependent upon foreign aid - of the total 2010 government expenditure ($17 billion) only $1.9 billion came from Afghanistan's own sources of revenue.  The present economy depends almost entirely on the development funds provided by the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada and other nations.  The money spent supporting the security environment is immense.  After 2014 most of this money will fade away.  It is unknown how much the donor nations will continue to contribute after 2014.  Most nations are turned off by the immense corruption of the Karzai regime.

There are some possible solutions for the future. Technology will play a large part - the explosion of cell phone use is phenomenal. There are rich mineral deposits that can be mined.  There is is the New Silk Road strategy that may transform the economy.  However, for all these possible solutions, there must be a secure environment - and that is another big question mark.

Read more on this topic in "Can the Afghan economy be saved?", By Javid Ahmad and Louise Langeby, The AFPAK Channel, Foreign Policy, February 3, 2012.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Will Coalition Drawdown of Troops Destabilize Afghanistan's Economy?

Many are speculating on the effect that the withdrawal of ISAF troops in 2014 will have on the Afghanistan economy.  Thousands of U.S. troops will have departed by the fall of 2012 - so that should start the trend. Some analysts think that corruption will decline (less money to steal) while others think it will be business as usual for the corrupt Karzai regime.  Over 90 percent of the Afghan government's budget comes from the international community and the country depends on that money.  Read one columnists take on the economic future of Afghanistan in "What happens when troops - and money - leave Afghanistan?", The Christian Science Monitor, February 7, 2012.  (Photo credit 1st Class David Frech DoD)

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Job Creation in Afghanistan Designed to Weaken Support for Taliban

Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Paul Brinkley directs a Pentagon task force with the mission of creating jobs in Afghanistan.  The intent is to help the Afghans develop an economy that will eventually provide income for the maintenance of its security forces as well as a functioning government.  Read more about this project in "Job creation will weaken Taliban in Afghanistan, Pentagon official says", The Dallas News, November 16, 2010.