Pakistan Institute of Development Economics
Encyclopedia
Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) was established at Karachi in 1957 and in 1964 accorded the status of an autonomous research organization by the Government of Pakistan. It is devoted to theoretical and empirical research in Development Economics in general and on Pakistan-related economic issues in particular. In addition to providing a firm academic basis to economic policy-making, its research also provides a window through which the outside world can view the nature and direction of economic research in Pakistan. Other soci
The educational structure of the Institute is fast expanding. It conducts educational programmes up to the PhD level. Apart from the Research Divisions, where research is the main focus, four departments now have strong postgraduate degree programmes.
The teaching curriculum focuses on developing the role and application of economic approaches for environmental issues, essential features of the market mechanism to control environmental degradation for sustainable economic development, the nature and treatment of environmental effects in economic reasoning and decision-making, and the application of environmental policy instruments based on economic analysis. The course work is based on contemporary environmental management approaches (e.g. ecological modernization
, ecological economics, and industrial ecology) with substantial (physical) economy dimensions.
Keeping in view the current lack of awareness and knowledge of Environmental issues, the MS Environmental Economics Programme is designed to:
Impart a sound understanding of the nexus between the economy and the environment;
Teach major concepts and theories to explain and describe the economic behaviour of human beings and its impact on the environment.
Outline and contrast the major economic schools of thought on the environment, and highlight the weaknesses of each market system (especially with regard to environmental aspects) and discuss the associated role of the government in the economy.
Supply high quality personnel to the federal and provincial governments, to educational institutions, to research institutions and to the private sector.
After successfully completing this programme the students should:
Have a basic understanding for the measurement of net social impact of alternative environmental options.
Be able to apply economic tools for valuation and other non-economic decision-making tools; and also distinguish between economic valuation tools and policy instruments.
Describe, critically review, and engage in the appropriate selection of the major existing economic tools for environmental management.
Be familiar with the essential features of the range of contemporary conceptual frameworks and sustainability assessment approaches with a significant economic component.
, family formation, and the relationships between such processes and broader social and economic contexts and trends. This multidisciplinary programme, while maintaining its core of basic demographic features, includes new areas such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and current aspects of traditional population topics such as aging, adolescence, gender, and the environment. The relationships and differentials between many aspects of population, such as health, education, fertility, mortality, economics of household structure, economic development, and population growth, poverty, status of women, and development, are the main focus. The MPS provides a balanced academic and professional training in theory and field research. The Department of Population Sciences plans to offer the MPhil and PhD programmes in the near future.
In view of PIDE’s current status as a degree-awarding academic institution, the many administrative and cadre changes necessary for the purpose can be foreseen. As such, other governing bodies are being formed to cope with the future needs of PIDE’s various component units.
Apart from the teaching Departments, the main Divisions at PIDE consist of Research, Publications, Training, Library, and Computer services. Besides the Human Resource Development Division, headed by the Registrar, the staff generally consists of Chief of Research, Senior Research Economist, Research Economist, Staff Economist, and Visiting Fellow. Equivalent posts exist in other fields. Additionally, each professional Division is headed by the respective Chief of the Division.
In light of PIDE’s recently expanded educational role, the teaching faculties at the Institute are among its main focal developments.
The second is to facilitate cooperation with governmental, non- governmental, and other agencies in the relevant fields of activity, and to provide facilities for training in economic analysis, research methods, and project evaluation for officials of both public and private sector organisations. PIDE also offers postgraduate academic programmes in Economics and other social sciences.
Further, we function as an agency for conducting and promoting research, surveys, seminars, experiments and demonstrations in related social disciplines in collaboration with international academic and development institutions on contractual basis. PIDE publishes its own and collaborative research and, when called upon to do so, extends advice to the Government and other agencies.
The studies conducted under these arrangements include topics such as the Structure of Protection and Allocative Efficiency in Pakistan, Population, Labour Force and Migration, Employment Projections, Population of Pakistan, Wheat Market in Pakistan, Human Resource Development, Capital Flows and Economic Adjustment in the Developing Countries, Sustainable Development in Pakistan (with a focus on the conservation and pollution issues), Household Food Security in Pakistan, the Ration Shop System, Food Outlook and Security in Pakistan, anthropological studies in the areas of Women’s Activities and Social Status, Natural Resource Management,Traditional Wisdom and Change, Ethnic Antagonism, Informal Sector in the Rural and Urban Areas, and Land Transport and Communication Linkages in the SAARC Region.
Two recent studies completed in collaboration with the United Nations Funds for Population Activities and UNICEF are the “Census Data Analysis” and “National Nutrition Survey 2001-02”. Currently, the second round of the poverty assessment project (PRHS-2) is under way, in collaboration with the World Bank. “Interim Evaluation of the Rural Support Programme in Pakistan” is being undertaken in nine districts of Pakistan in collaboration with the World Bank, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, National Rural Support Programme, and Punjab Rural Support Programme. PIDE, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, has also worked on a project on “Community-based Monitoring System”.
SANEI organises annual research competitions within the South Asian region. Collaborative research has received strong support. This implies that in addition to stand-alone research, SANEI funds projects which are jointly carried out by at least two research institutes based in two different countries in South Asia. Studies carried out under the auspices of SANEI are published. SANEI also holds annual conferences as part of its effort to promote an exchange of ideas on economic research in the region, as well as to disseminate its research findings.
The activities of the participating institutes are integrated and coordinated by the respective regional/country network. Until recently, SANEI was housed in the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, India. The headquarters of the organisation moved to Pakistan a couple of years ago. The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) is the current Coordinator for the South Asia Network.
A Research Advisory Panel (RAP), comprising renowned economists from South Asia, evaluates research proposals submitted by the network of institutions. The Panel reviews the progress of the projects and provides expert guidance, with the objective to improve the quality of research.
A constitution, “SANEI, Pakistan”, has been adopted and the body has been registered as a Society, with Prof. T. N. Srinivasan as its Chairman and Dr Nadeem Ul Haque as its Secretary (Coordinator). Funds for research at SANEI are provided by the Global Development Network.
The Network seeks to expand its range of activities in future years. It will continue to strengthen collaborative research in the region, and will try to reach out to many more institutes. A SANEI website has been developed. In future, SANEI will also engage further capacity building in the region by organising a summer school and training workshops. It will act as a nodal agency for the dissemination of information on economic issues, while continuing to be the principal forum for exchange of ideas on current and emerging socio-economic issues in the South Asian region.
A number of joint publishing and production projects have also been completed in collaboration with other research organisations, notably the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Islamabad, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, the East-West Centre, Honolulu, the International Centre for Economic Growth, San Francisco, the Centre for Development Planning, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, National Institute of Banking and Finance, Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan, the United Nations Population Fund, International Labour Organisation, and the United Nations Development Programme.
The Review’s Editorial Board consists of thirty-five outstanding scholars in the field of Economics and various social science fields. They actively participate in refereeing the papers submitted to the Review for publication; they also render valuable advice on other related matters.
Most national and international indexing and abstracting
services in the social sciences provide useful information about our
publications. The contents of the PDR are abstracted/indexed regularly
by several works of reference including International Bibliography of
the Social Sciences, EconLit
, e-JEL, JEL on CD, World Agricultural
Economics and Rural Sociology Abstracts, Agricultural Engineering
Abstracts, Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, Ekistic Index of
Periodicals, Wheat, Barley and Triticale Abstracts, Tropical Oilseeds,
Rice Abstracts, Population Index, International Labour Documentation,
Bibliography of Asian Studies, Geo Abstracts, CABi, IORR Virtual
Library, and Current Issues.
Occasionally, the PDR publishes special issues. For example,
the Summer 1979 issue was devoted to a symposium on ‘Shadow
Pricing’, while the Summer, Autumn, and Winter issues of 1980 were
devoted to a symposium on ‘The State of Development Economics:
Models and Realities’. More recent issues have carried current debates
on social sciences research and the profession, while the Spring 2006
issue offers substantial focus on ‘Pakistan’s Growth Strategy’.
The journal’s large subscriber list includes universities, libraries,
and individual addresses in all parts of the world. Electronic access has
been made possible by placing nearly all of the information about
publications on the PIDE website.
More than 200 research reports and 20 monographs (including those
written before the separation of East and West Pakistan) have been
published. The first monograph was researched and written by Dr John
C. H. Fei and Dr Gustav Ranis, titled A Study of Planning Methodology
with special reference to Pakistan’s Second Five Year Plan. A complete list of the Research Reports and Monographs is available at
the website.
become vibrant and replaced the older Research Report series. Some
recent titles are:
A complete list is available at the website.
Investment of Oil Revenues, by M. L. Qureshi, was published in 1974,
when the topic was just beginning to gain attention. A recent book,
Gender and Empowerment: Evidence from Pakistan, by Rehana
Siddiqui, et al. (2006), addresses current concerns. In the ‘Lectures’
series, two recent titles are: Beyond Planning and Mercantilism: An
Evaluation of Pakistan’s Growth Strategy by Nadeem Ul Haque
(2006) and Brain Drain or Human Capital Flight by Nadeem Ul
Haque (2005). Some of the well-known books published by PIDE
earlier are:
to support dialogue and information exchange among researchers,
practitioners, and policy-makers. It includes the Annual General
Meeting and Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development
Economists (PSDE), lectures, conferences, workshops, and seminars.
established in 1982 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860,
provides an institutional framework for the dissemination of the fruits
of research among scholars, public officials, and policy-makers dealing
with economic matters. The Society’s current membership of more than
four hundred includes Nobel Laureates, academics, administrators, and
other members working in all the different continents of the world.
The Society holds its annual meetings regularly. The Annual
General Meeting and Conference of the Society is an occasion for
stock-taking of the work done at PIDE and elsewhere on various socioeconomic
problems of Pakistan, the region, and the world, as well as
for suggesting new initiatives for further research. These meetings
provide for the much-needed communication amongst the economics
professionals, policy-makers, and various schools of interested
observers of the ongoing debate concerning development-related
issues. Twenty one such meetings have been held thus far, with over
600 papers presented in areas such as agriculture, industry,
international trade and exchange rates, fiscal and monetary economics,
project appraisals, demography, human resource development, resource
mobilisation, debt, governance, gender, poverty, structural adjustment,
and Islamic economics. The papers presented in the meetings are
subsequently published in the Papers and Proceedings issue of The
Pakistan Development Review.
The highlights of the PSDE meetings are the Distinguished
Lectures. Three of these are Memorial Lectures dedicated to the
memory of the Quaid-i-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of
Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal, poet-philosopher, and Dr Mahbub ul Haq,
economist. The Distinguished Speaker list in different years has had on
it such names as Professor Lawrence R. Klein (Nobel Laureate), Sir
Hans W. Singer, Professor E. Malinvaud, Professor Paul P. Streeten,
Professor Ansley J. Coale, Professor David P. Laidler, Professor Robert
was instituted many years ago. Twenty-three lectures in this series have
been delivered so far; eminent economists, demographers, and other social
scientists have been on the speakers’ list. Many of these lectures have
already been published by PIDE. Another seminar series on public policy
issues was initiated in June 2002, which analysed the current policy issues.
The new PIDE Lectures Series attracts major new contributions to various
fields.
at PIDE for discussion and exchange of information. The main
objective of the round-table conferences based on the new themes
introduced at PIDE is to provide a forum for discussion to identify
research issues in the area that the Institute and other researchers may
follow. The objective of the workshops is to share findings of the
studies on current issues in Pakistan. The proceedings of these
conferences and workshops are available at PIDE’s website.
2006 a weekly seminar series to stimulate intellectual thought for
development discourse. A similar PIDE Viewpoint—Seminar Series
has been in place since early 2008. The seminars are open to policymakers,
researchers, planners, practitioners, educators, individuals from
the public and private organisations, and students. The series covers a
variety of subjects and issues in the field of economics and other social
sciences.
specialised in-service training courses in Economic Planning and
Management for development practitioners working in government or
semi-government departments and in autonomous development
organisations. The objective is to develop the operational skills of the
participants so that they can successfully plan and assess all aspects of
development projects. It covers all sectors of the economy such as
agriculture, industry, livestock, water, power, transport, education, and
health.
Participants learn modern techniques to carry out financial,
economic, and social evaluations of projects, as well as the methods for
planning and implementing projects. The specified courses include
Project Planning, Appraisal, Implementation, and Evaluation
Techniques, Effective Communications Skills, Gender Mainstreaming,
Macroeconomic Planning and Management, and Result-based
Monitoring and Evaluation. Learning theory is combined with practical
exercises, including monitoring of ongoing field activities. Training
also involves lively group discussions and presentations of projects by
the participants.
The Division has added policy analysis courses in its
programme since 1998. As PIDE is one of the institutes designated by
the Government of Pakistan for promotion-related capacity building of
civil servants of various occupational groups (BPS-17 and above), the
number of courses to be administered at this campus has been
increasing. The Division has broad links and information-sharing
channels with other national and international training institutes.
Besides training, the Division also contributes to research and
development activities of PIDE through its projects and programmes.
The educational structure of the Institute is fast expanding. It conducts educational programmes up to the PhD level. Apart from the Research Divisions, where research is the main focus, four departments now have strong postgraduate degree programmes.
Department of Economics
PIDE realised early the importance of extending knowledge of economics in an appropriate academic environment. The PhD Programme in Economics is well-established. Indeed, with a high placement rating, our graduates regularly find employment in the best teaching and policy-making institutions in Pakistan. It is now introducing the MSc in Economics to provide advanced training in economic analysis. The programme offers a wide range of optional areas within the subject. They may study particular areas of economics in greater depth, from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. The Department of Economics consists of senior faculty members. Several members of the Department also serve as advisers to various government agencies or multilateral/ bilateral organisations.Environmental Economics
For the sustainable economic development, for the current and future generations, profound knowledge of the issues of Environment and Resource Use is critical. The aim of the teaching programme in Environmental Economics is to create awareness and train the students, researchers and practitioners to conduct research, using the concepts and tools of economics, on issues related to Environmental Economics and Climate Change.The teaching curriculum focuses on developing the role and application of economic approaches for environmental issues, essential features of the market mechanism to control environmental degradation for sustainable economic development, the nature and treatment of environmental effects in economic reasoning and decision-making, and the application of environmental policy instruments based on economic analysis. The course work is based on contemporary environmental management approaches (e.g. ecological modernization
Ecological modernization
Ecological modernization is an optimistic school of thought in the social sciences that argues that the economy benefits from moves towards environmentalism...
, ecological economics, and industrial ecology) with substantial (physical) economy dimensions.
Keeping in view the current lack of awareness and knowledge of Environmental issues, the MS Environmental Economics Programme is designed to:
Impart a sound understanding of the nexus between the economy and the environment;
Teach major concepts and theories to explain and describe the economic behaviour of human beings and its impact on the environment.
Outline and contrast the major economic schools of thought on the environment, and highlight the weaknesses of each market system (especially with regard to environmental aspects) and discuss the associated role of the government in the economy.
Supply high quality personnel to the federal and provincial governments, to educational institutions, to research institutions and to the private sector.
After successfully completing this programme the students should:
Have a basic understanding for the measurement of net social impact of alternative environmental options.
Be able to apply economic tools for valuation and other non-economic decision-making tools; and also distinguish between economic valuation tools and policy instruments.
Describe, critically review, and engage in the appropriate selection of the major existing economic tools for environmental management.
Be familiar with the essential features of the range of contemporary conceptual frameworks and sustainability assessment approaches with a significant economic component.
Department of Econometrics and Statistics
The Department of Econometrics and Statistics offers the MSc degree in Econometrics and Statistics. It is a new and emerging discipline in Pakistan, providing for an emphasis on the application of econometrics and statistics to policy issues and empirical questions. The MSc in Econometrics and Statistics at PIDE aims to provide advanced instruction and rigorous training in econometric theories and the relevant statistical methods. These include basic econometric theory, applied econometrics, probability theory, statistical methods, sampling, time series analysis, financial econometrics, and micro econometrics. This programme is for students having a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics or Mathematics. Career prospects with a Master’s degree in Econometrics and Statistics are diverse and excellent. Graduates will find employment in research departments, the financial sector, teaching institutions, and business organisations as marketing analysts, econometricians, and statisticians. The programme also prepares students for admission to the PhD programme.Department of Business Studies
The Department of Business Studies currently offers the MBA degree. The MBA programme at PIDE is demanding and requires of students solid preparation for each class session. Teaching sessions are interactive; diversified work experience and creativity are highly valued during in-class discussions. Our MBA Programme is hands-on and well in touch with the real business world as our faculty is drawn from the pool of best qualified professionals in business and industry. These aspects add to the value and quality of the MBA programme. Some of the development skills that our programme provides are improved time management, a network of contacts that will outlast the management career, and increased motivation at work as things start to make sense. Above all, the learning and reflective habits developed will ensure that even long after graduating, those with an MBA degree will be outperforming those without it.Department of Population Sciences
The Department offers the Master in Population Sciences (MPS) degree programme. The students are encouraged to have an in-depth understanding of the complexities of population processes, including fertility, family planning, morbidity, mortality, migration, urbanisation, demographic dividendDemographic dividend
The demographic dividend is a rise in the rate of economic growth due to a rising share of working age people in a population. This usually occurs late in the demographic transition when the fertility rate falls and the youth dependency rate declines. During this demographic window of opportunity,...
, family formation, and the relationships between such processes and broader social and economic contexts and trends. This multidisciplinary programme, while maintaining its core of basic demographic features, includes new areas such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, and current aspects of traditional population topics such as aging, adolescence, gender, and the environment. The relationships and differentials between many aspects of population, such as health, education, fertility, mortality, economics of household structure, economic development, and population growth, poverty, status of women, and development, are the main focus. The MPS provides a balanced academic and professional training in theory and field research. The Department of Population Sciences plans to offer the MPhil and PhD programmes in the near future.
Institutional Offices
The Vice-Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics is the executive head of the Institute and heads the Syndicate, while the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission is the Chancellor. The overseeing body of the Institute is the Senate of PIDE; its membership is gained through both nomination and election. The President of Pakistan is the Patron of PIDE.In view of PIDE’s current status as a degree-awarding academic institution, the many administrative and cadre changes necessary for the purpose can be foreseen. As such, other governing bodies are being formed to cope with the future needs of PIDE’s various component units.
Apart from the teaching Departments, the main Divisions at PIDE consist of Research, Publications, Training, Library, and Computer services. Besides the Human Resource Development Division, headed by the Registrar, the staff generally consists of Chief of Research, Senior Research Economist, Research Economist, Staff Economist, and Visiting Fellow. Equivalent posts exist in other fields. Additionally, each professional Division is headed by the respective Chief of the Division.
In light of PIDE’s recently expanded educational role, the teaching faculties at the Institute are among its main focal developments.
International Advisory Board
At the beginning, three well-known economists, Professor Max F. Millikan, Professor Gunner Myrdal (Nobel Laureate), and Professor E. A. G. Robinson formed the Institute’s International Advisory Board. Following registration with the Government of Pakistan as an autonomous organisation and the transfer of management to Pakistanis, the International Advisory Board extended its membership to seven outstanding and famous economists, namely, Hollis B. Chenery, Ansley J. Coale, Just Faaland, Harry G. Johnson, Gustav Ranis, and Paul P. Streeten. Currently, there are ten well-known economists from all over the world who are members of the International Advisory Board. They are Gamani Corea, Just Faaland, Albert O. Hirschman,Lawrence R. Klein (Nobel Laureate), Janos Kornai, E. Malinvaud, Robert A. Mundell (Nobel Laureate), Gustav Ranis, Paul P. Streeten, and Winfried von Urff.Finances
PIDE is mainly funded by the Government of Pakistan, and partly through earnings from its endowment and the studies carried out for various international organisations. The Institute has always enjoyed generous patronage and support. H.R.H. The Aga Khan III had provided the seed money for the Institute’s founding in the late 1950s. The Ford Foundation has also been contributing funds. In 1979, USAID provided a substantial endowment grant. The United Bank Limited, Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan, Pak-Kuwait Investment Company Limited, Pak-Libya Holding Company Limited, and Investment Corporation of Pakistan have provided additional financial resources. PIDE regards this as an earnest of the contribution being made by Pakistani development institutions and banks towards ensuring both academic excellence and independence.Objectives and Services
Among our objectives, the first is to carry out theoretical and empirical research on Pakistan-related economic and social issues to highlight appropriate policy implications. PIDE also provides a forum to disseminate research results and knowledge to other economists and social scientists.The second is to facilitate cooperation with governmental, non- governmental, and other agencies in the relevant fields of activity, and to provide facilities for training in economic analysis, research methods, and project evaluation for officials of both public and private sector organisations. PIDE also offers postgraduate academic programmes in Economics and other social sciences.
Further, we function as an agency for conducting and promoting research, surveys, seminars, experiments and demonstrations in related social disciplines in collaboration with international academic and development institutions on contractual basis. PIDE publishes its own and collaborative research and, when called upon to do so, extends advice to the Government and other agencies.
Nature of Research
In addressing the contemporary issues, PIDE is usually at the forefront. Therefore, the theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented research at the Institute has greatly influenced the literature on development economics as well as policy formulation in Pakistan. Looking at the multidimensional nature of the socio-economic issues, the research agenda of PIDE is organised carefully so that it can address all relevant issues in detail.Research Divisions
PIDE has been restructured around two main research themes and six sub-themes. It has now two Departments underlining research themes for the year 2006-2007 and six Divisions for sub-themes. The Institute has been restructured as follows:- Institutions, Growth, and Macroeconomics Department, which includes the following three Divisions:
- one point one Development Strategies and Governance;
- one point two Human Capital, Innovation, and Growth; and
- one point three Macroeconomics, Banking and Finance.
- Markets and Society Department, which includes the following three Divisions:
- Two point one Industrial Organisation, Markets, and Regulation;
- Two point two Agricultural Production, Markets, and Institutions; and
- Two point three Population and Social Dynamics.
Collaborative Research
A number of studies have been completed at PIDE in collaboration with various international organisations, including the World Bank, Committee for International Cooperation on Research in Demography (CICRED), Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Bank Institute (WBI), Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), World Economic Forum, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), ILO/ARTEP, Asian and Pacific Development Centre (APDC), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Erasmus University (Rotterdam), Institute of Social Studies (The Hague), Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Germany, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO), University of Tübingen, Germany, International Centre for Economic Growth, USA, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, etc.The studies conducted under these arrangements include topics such as the Structure of Protection and Allocative Efficiency in Pakistan, Population, Labour Force and Migration, Employment Projections, Population of Pakistan, Wheat Market in Pakistan, Human Resource Development, Capital Flows and Economic Adjustment in the Developing Countries, Sustainable Development in Pakistan (with a focus on the conservation and pollution issues), Household Food Security in Pakistan, the Ration Shop System, Food Outlook and Security in Pakistan, anthropological studies in the areas of Women’s Activities and Social Status, Natural Resource Management,Traditional Wisdom and Change, Ethnic Antagonism, Informal Sector in the Rural and Urban Areas, and Land Transport and Communication Linkages in the SAARC Region.
Two recent studies completed in collaboration with the United Nations Funds for Population Activities and UNICEF are the “Census Data Analysis” and “National Nutrition Survey 2001-02”. Currently, the second round of the poverty assessment project (PRHS-2) is under way, in collaboration with the World Bank. “Interim Evaluation of the Rural Support Programme in Pakistan” is being undertaken in nine districts of Pakistan in collaboration with the World Bank, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, National Rural Support Programme, and Punjab Rural Support Programme. PIDE, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, has also worked on a project on “Community-based Monitoring System”.
SANEI
SANEI is a regional initiative to foster networking and collaboration among economic research institutes in South Asia. Initiated in June 1998, SANEI seeks to establish strong research inter-linkages among various economic research institutes in the region with a view to encouraging a better-informed policy-making process. As such, special emphasis is given to capacity building and formation of a South Asia-wide professional network of researchers engaged in policy-oriented studies.SANEI organises annual research competitions within the South Asian region. Collaborative research has received strong support. This implies that in addition to stand-alone research, SANEI funds projects which are jointly carried out by at least two research institutes based in two different countries in South Asia. Studies carried out under the auspices of SANEI are published. SANEI also holds annual conferences as part of its effort to promote an exchange of ideas on economic research in the region, as well as to disseminate its research findings.
The activities of the participating institutes are integrated and coordinated by the respective regional/country network. Until recently, SANEI was housed in the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, India. The headquarters of the organisation moved to Pakistan a couple of years ago. The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) is the current Coordinator for the South Asia Network.
A Research Advisory Panel (RAP), comprising renowned economists from South Asia, evaluates research proposals submitted by the network of institutions. The Panel reviews the progress of the projects and provides expert guidance, with the objective to improve the quality of research.
A constitution, “SANEI, Pakistan”, has been adopted and the body has been registered as a Society, with Prof. T. N. Srinivasan as its Chairman and Dr Nadeem Ul Haque as its Secretary (Coordinator). Funds for research at SANEI are provided by the Global Development Network.
The Network seeks to expand its range of activities in future years. It will continue to strengthen collaborative research in the region, and will try to reach out to many more institutes. A SANEI website has been developed
Visiting Scholars
PIDE is internationally reputed as a research organisation with high standards of research. A key factor in its success is the free interaction of its scholars with the outside world. Every possible effort is made to promote this interaction and to keep abreast of the developments in economic, demographic, and anthropological analysis. Both government and non-government channels contribute to an ongoing dialogue. Our own staff frequently participates in international conferences and forums. Scholars from other institutions may avail of longer-term research residencies from time to time. The Institute also holds seminars on topics of current interest. In these seminars, research by scholars at PIDE and other contributors is discussed. Under the auspices of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists, which is based at PIDE, every year a large number of social scientists are invited from all over Pakistan and from abroad to deliver lectures and hold workshops in the meetings of the Society. More than forty foreign scholars have been invited thus far. Among the invitees have been Lawrence Klein (Nobel Laureate), Fritz Machlup, Edmond Malinvaud, Robert Mundell (Nobel Laureate), M. Ali Khan, Ismail Sirageldin, Ronald Jones, Gamani Corea, Robert Baldwin, Nancy Birdsall, Mahmood Hasan Khan, Peter Cornelisse, Pan Yotopoulos, Vernon Ruttan, Ansley Coale, Lawrence Summers, Paul Streeten, and Hans Singer.Publications and Research Information
Through its publications and research information services, PIDE disseminates its research results country/worldwide. The Publications Division is responsible for all publishing undertaken by PIDE in the form of journals, books, newsletters, research reports, and monographs as well as miscellaneous publications for the academic programmes, the programmes of the PSDE, PIDE Seminar Series, and the training courses.A number of joint publishing and production projects have also been completed in collaboration with other research organisations, notably the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Islamabad, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, the East-West Centre, Honolulu, the International Centre for Economic Growth, San Francisco, the Centre for Development Planning, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, National Institute of Banking and Finance, Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan, the United Nations Population Fund, International Labour Organisation, and the United Nations Development Programme.
The Pakistan Development Review
Started at The Institute of Development Economics as Economic Digest in 1956, The Pakistan Development Review (PDR) has been published by the Institute regularly since 1961, with only a short pause during 1971-72. For several decades now, it has been a refereed international journal of Economics and related social sciences. Redesigned and re-planned twice in the last two decade, the contents have tended to emphasise theoretical-cum-empirical contributions; the underlying commitment has been to strengthen the interest in the general areas of Economics and other social science fields. The journal is issued quarterly and, with a fair mix of topics, regularly contains original (theoretical and empirical) contributions to Economics, in general, and on Pakistan’s socio-economic problems, in particular. Nearly every issue carries contributions by scholars from Pakistan and overseas. Currently, the following editors work regularly on the PDR: Dr Rashid Amjad (Editor), Professor Aurangzeb A. Hashmi (Literary Editor), and Mr Mir Annice Mahmood (Book Review Editor).The Review’s Editorial Board consists of thirty-five outstanding scholars in the field of Economics and various social science fields. They actively participate in refereeing the papers submitted to the Review for publication; they also render valuable advice on other related matters.
Most national and international indexing and abstracting
services in the social sciences provide useful information about our
publications. The contents of the PDR are abstracted/indexed regularly
by several works of reference including International Bibliography of
the Social Sciences, EconLit
EconLit
EconLit is an academic literature abstracting database service published by the American Economic Association. The service focuses on literature in the field of economics. EconLit covers articles and other materials dating back to 1969. It uses the JEL classification codes for classifying papers...
, e-JEL, JEL on CD, World Agricultural
Economics and Rural Sociology Abstracts, Agricultural Engineering
Abstracts, Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, Ekistic Index of
Periodicals, Wheat, Barley and Triticale Abstracts, Tropical Oilseeds,
Rice Abstracts, Population Index, International Labour Documentation,
Bibliography of Asian Studies, Geo Abstracts, CABi, IORR Virtual
Library, and Current Issues.
Occasionally, the PDR publishes special issues. For example,
the Summer 1979 issue was devoted to a symposium on ‘Shadow
Pricing’, while the Summer, Autumn, and Winter issues of 1980 were
devoted to a symposium on ‘The State of Development Economics:
Models and Realities’. More recent issues have carried current debates
on social sciences research and the profession, while the Spring 2006
issue offers substantial focus on ‘Pakistan’s Growth Strategy’.
The journal’s large subscriber list includes universities, libraries,
and individual addresses in all parts of the world. Electronic access has
been made possible by placing nearly all of the information about
publications on the PIDE website
Research Reports and Monographs
These series of publications by the PIDE go a long way back.More than 200 research reports and 20 monographs (including those
written before the separation of East and West Pakistan) have been
published. The first monograph was researched and written by Dr John
C. H. Fei and Dr Gustav Ranis, titled A Study of Planning Methodology
with special reference to Pakistan’s Second Five Year Plan. A complete list of the Research Reports and Monographs is available at
the website
PIDE Working Papers
This series, based on the seminars presented at PIDE, hasbecome vibrant and replaced the older Research Report series. Some
recent titles are:
- One Dynamic Effects of Agriculture Trade in the Context of Domestic and Global Liberalisation: A CGE Analysis for Pakistan by Rizwana Siddiqui (2007).
- two Measures of Monetary Policy Stance: The Case of Pakistan by Sajawal Khan and Abdul Qayyum (2007).
- three Public Provision of Education and Government Spending in Pakistan by Muhammad Akram and Faheem Jehangir Khan(2007).
- four Household Budget Analysis for Pakistan under Varying the Parameter Approach by Eatzaz Ahmad and Muhammad Arshad (2007).
- five Pension and Social Security Schemes in Pakistan: Some Policy Options by Naushin Mahmood and Zafar Mueen Nasir(2008).
- six Public Social Services, and Capability Development: A Cross-district Analysis of Pakistan by Rizwana Siddiqui (2008).
- seven Monetary Policy Transparency in Pakistan: An Independent Analysis by Wasim Shahid Malik and Musleh-ud Din (2008).
- eight Bilateral J-Curves between Pakistan and Her Trading Partners by Zehra Aftab and Sajawal Khan (2008).
- nine On Measuring the Complexity of Urban Living by Lubna Hasan (2008).
A complete list is available at the website
Books
PIDE is also a publisher of influential books. The first title,Investment of Oil Revenues, by M. L. Qureshi, was published in 1974,
when the topic was just beginning to gain attention. A recent book,
Gender and Empowerment: Evidence from Pakistan, by Rehana
Siddiqui, et al. (2006), addresses current concerns. In the ‘Lectures’
series, two recent titles are: Beyond Planning and Mercantilism: An
Evaluation of Pakistan’s Growth Strategy by Nadeem Ul Haque
(2006) and Brain Drain or Human Capital Flight by Nadeem Ul
Haque (2005). Some of the well-known books published by PIDE
earlier are:
- The Population of Pakistan by M. Afzal, et al. (1974)
- An Analysis of Real Wages in the Government Sector, 1971–76 by Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi (1977)
- An Agenda for Islamic Economic Reform by Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi (1980, reprinted in 1989)
- The PIDE Macro-econometric Model of Pakistan’s Economy(Vol 1) by Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi, A. H. Khan, Nasir M. Khilji and Ather M. Ahmed (1983)
- Pakistan’s Economy through the Seventies by Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi and Khwaja Sarmad (1984)
- Land Reforms in Pakistan: A Historical Perspective by Syed Nawab Haider Naqvi, Mahmood Hasan Khan, and M. Ghaffar Chaudhry (1987)
- Agricultural Growth and Employment by John W. Mellor (1988)
- Population and Development by Ansley J. Coale (1990)
- Pakistan’s Economic Situation and Future Prospects by Ejaz Ahmed Naik (1993)
- Poverty and Rural Credit: The Case of Pakistan by Sohail J.Malik (1999)
- Public Sector Efficiency: Perspectives on Civil Service Reform by Nadeem Ul Haque and Musleh-ud Din (2006)
- Cities—Engines of Growth by Nadeem Ul Haque and Durr-e-Nayab (2007)
- Energy Issues in Pakistan by Mir Annice Mahmood (2008)
- PIDE Research in Print 1957–2007 by Zafar Javed Naqvi(2008)
- PIDE—from a Think Tank to a University: A Brief History by S.M. Naseem (2008)
- PIDE’s Contribution to Development Thinking: The Earlier Phase by A. R. Khan (2008)
Other publications
Apart from the regular series of publications, PIDE also publishes occasionally Project Reports, Statistical Papers, essays, and lectures. PIDE Tidings ceased awhile ago. A bimonthly newsletter, PIDE Focus, now puts everyone in touch with PIDE’s activities. PIDE Policy Viewpoint is also a new series drawing and inviting sufficient attention and contributions. Details about publications can be viewed at the PIDE website.Fostering Information Exchange
PIDE conducts a variety of programmes and activities designedto support dialogue and information exchange among researchers,
practitioners, and policy-makers. It includes the Annual General
Meeting and Conference of the Pakistan Society of Development
Economists (PSDE), lectures, conferences, workshops, and seminars.
Annual General Meeting and Conference of the PSDE
Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE),established in 1982 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860,
provides an institutional framework for the dissemination of the fruits
of research among scholars, public officials, and policy-makers dealing
with economic matters. The Society’s current membership of more than
four hundred includes Nobel Laureates, academics, administrators, and
other members working in all the different continents of the world.
The Society holds its annual meetings regularly. The Annual
General Meeting and Conference of the Society is an occasion for
stock-taking of the work done at PIDE and elsewhere on various socioeconomic
problems of Pakistan, the region, and the world, as well as
for suggesting new initiatives for further research. These meetings
provide for the much-needed communication amongst the economics
professionals, policy-makers, and various schools of interested
observers of the ongoing debate concerning development-related
issues. Twenty one such meetings have been held thus far, with over
600 papers presented in areas such as agriculture, industry,
international trade and exchange rates, fiscal and monetary economics,
project appraisals, demography, human resource development, resource
mobilisation, debt, governance, gender, poverty, structural adjustment,
and Islamic economics. The papers presented in the meetings are
subsequently published in the Papers and Proceedings issue of The
Pakistan Development Review.
The highlights of the PSDE meetings are the Distinguished
Lectures. Three of these are Memorial Lectures dedicated to the
memory of the Quaid-i-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of
Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal, poet-philosopher, and Dr Mahbub ul Haq,
economist. The Distinguished Speaker list in different years has had on
it such names as Professor Lawrence R. Klein (Nobel Laureate), Sir
Hans W. Singer, Professor E. Malinvaud, Professor Paul P. Streeten,
Professor Ansley J. Coale, Professor David P. Laidler, Professor Robert
Lecture Series
A lecture series, entitled “Lectures in Development Economics”,was instituted many years ago. Twenty-three lectures in this series have
been delivered so far; eminent economists, demographers, and other social
scientists have been on the speakers’ list. Many of these lectures have
already been published by PIDE. Another seminar series on public policy
issues was initiated in June 2002, which analysed the current policy issues.
The new PIDE Lectures Series attracts major new contributions to various
fields.
Conferences and Workshops
A new series of conferences and workshops has been launchedat PIDE for discussion and exchange of information. The main
objective of the round-table conferences based on the new themes
introduced at PIDE is to provide a forum for discussion to identify
research issues in the area that the Institute and other researchers may
follow. The objective of the workshops is to share findings of the
studies on current issues in Pakistan. The proceedings of these
conferences and workshops are available at PIDE’s website.
PIDE Viewpoint—Seminar Series
The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics initiated in2006 a weekly seminar series to stimulate intellectual thought for
development discourse. A similar PIDE Viewpoint—Seminar Series
has been in place since early 2008. The seminars are open to policymakers,
researchers, planners, practitioners, educators, individuals from
the public and private organisations, and students. The series covers a
variety of subjects and issues in the field of economics and other social
sciences.
Training and Project Evaluation Division
The Training and Project Evaluation Division conductsspecialised in-service training courses in Economic Planning and
Management for development practitioners working in government or
semi-government departments and in autonomous development
organisations. The objective is to develop the operational skills of the
participants so that they can successfully plan and assess all aspects of
development projects. It covers all sectors of the economy such as
agriculture, industry, livestock, water, power, transport, education, and
health.
Participants learn modern techniques to carry out financial,
economic, and social evaluations of projects, as well as the methods for
planning and implementing projects. The specified courses include
Project Planning, Appraisal, Implementation, and Evaluation
Techniques, Effective Communications Skills, Gender Mainstreaming,
Macroeconomic Planning and Management, and Result-based
Monitoring and Evaluation. Learning theory is combined with practical
exercises, including monitoring of ongoing field activities. Training
also involves lively group discussions and presentations of projects by
the participants.
The Division has added policy analysis courses in its
programme since 1998. As PIDE is one of the institutes designated by
the Government of Pakistan for promotion-related capacity building of
civil servants of various occupational groups (BPS-17 and above), the
number of courses to be administered at this campus has been
increasing. The Division has broad links and information-sharing
channels with other national and international training institutes.
Besides training, the Division also contributes to research and
development activities of PIDE through its projects and programmes.
External links
- pide.org.pk - Official Website