This book contributes to empirical finance by comprehensively analysing an emerging stock market, employing modern econometric techniques. The most central and fascinating area of financial economics is probably the efficiency and volatility of the stock market – however, studies of emerging economies are relatively limited in this area. The rising importance of stock market globalisation has increased interest in emerging markets. This book leads the way for an emerging market perspective, as it explores the issue of efficiency and volatility of the stock market in Bangladesh by employing both univariate and multivariate models, using daily data of past share prices and monthly data of macroeconomic variables and the stock index, respectively. This book offers an understanding of the crucial issues facing developing economies, particularly emerging stock markets with similar characteristics to those of Bangladesh. This book undoubtedly provides valuable information for investors in the stock market, graduate, post-graduate, and PhD students in quantitative financial economics, academics in economics and finance, and policymakers in developing economies.

This book focuses on socio-economic developments of Bangladesh by challenging the dominant international narrative of the case being termed as “development surprise”, “development paradox” or “development conundrum,” given the absence of good governance. In doing so, the book examines the political economic dynamics and offers valuable insights into the current state of the Bangladeshi economy in light of stability, transformability and sustainability. Pointing to the ‘high’ rate of growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in Bangladesh, there is wide belief that economic growth can be obtained even without functioning institutions, and is more important than an inclusive political system. Advocates go on to argue that authoritarianism may be condoned as long as a steady course of development is perused. However, the inadequacy of comparative analysis in to the state of the economy of Bangladesh vis-à-vis other relevant economies makes such claims myopic and parochial. This book thus investigates the numbers and narratives to ascertain the validity of such assertions and lamentations by looking at the necessary and sufficient conditions of development. The necessary conditions imply an incisive inquiry into the factors of economic growth— land, labour, capital and technology while sufficient conditions warrant a penetrating incisive inquiry into the factors of economic growth— land, labour, capital and technology. As such, the book explores development by drawing variables of politics and economics to find out a causal relationship, and interjects these variables have on themes such as growth, agriculture, manufacturing industry, financial sector, health, education, poverty and inequality.

Deliberations of a workshop organized by the Centre for Administrative Studies, University of Dacca.

Contributed articles on history and civilization of Bangladesh in 19th and 20th century.