Connection Failure

I did not know you were into Econ bostongirl..So, where did you do your graduation from?
I am thinking of development studies in the future...any suggestions?

Back to topic..yea its nice to see people from the Asian region bouncing back to the international arena....

For development economics, I would say UMass Amherst (if you are talking about Ph.D. or masters). Do some looking around on your own..I heard Madison is pretty good with Development econ too.

Yeah, I was just listening about it on NPR. Finally those Nobel people are appreciating the value of microfinancing.

Bibas,
Ya I heard that Madison has pretty good program on Community development eco. I would also suggest SNHU www.snhu.edu They have good CD program as well as they do microfinancing seminars every summer.

I feel Mohammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank were rightfully recognized with the 2006 Nobel Prize as Mr. Yunus with his pioneering micro-credit sheme has not only helped empower his poverty stuck native population but all the impoverished global citizens as well. Since many women, of my part of Nepal, actively par-take on this system, I can personally relate to the enormous social and economic development endeavor he has embarked upon. The whole idea is very simple yet very rewarding. Congtulations to Mr. Yunus for wining the award and for his ingenuous concept.

It is such a simple philosophy but has been able to impact the lives of millions of people around the world. He believed that everyone deserved a chance, even second chance and given a choice, no would like to be poor.
He put his belief into action and havent made millionairs out of his program, but have definitely given them a sustainable livelihood. He used his own money to start the progam that is being followed so widely. It has empowered poor and specially the women. His policy is applicable to all countries, which makes its impact even bigger. Well deserved Nobel!!

great guy... boston girl..you should do something for nepal with your talent too:P

Trying ImI, trying :-)

Boston Girl: Trying Boleto???? From Boston!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????

Yunus Bhai, Wa Bhai Kya Kaam Kiya Bhai! Pure South Asia ka Bada Naam Kiya Bhai! Apun Bol Sakta Hai, Apun ka Bhai hi Yaar! Just 127 Km.

Munna

Personally, I have written so many papers about microfinancing so Yunus is practically my 'academic father'.

boston,

you mean 'published' or just some coursework twaddles :P


LooTe

BUT WHY PEACE PRIZE, sorry to poke my nose here but........................?They have no category for the ECONOMICS ?

another one from the truth Revealed Series

why yunus won the Nobel peace prize?

Lately there has been severe shortage of Peace advocates in the world. in 2004 wangari won by planting trees and saying that aids was introduced africa by the west as WMD haha! Last worthy winner, i'ld say medics without borders??

Yunus should have been given Noble prize in Economics. the judges however felt felt that he was not academic enough to get the prize in economics, hence chucked him in the peace prize category!

Dr. M. Yunus who has brought change to millions of poors around the world well deserved the prize. He plans to create a company that would make low-cost, high-nutrition food for the poor and in setting up an eye hospital for the poor in Bangladesh by using the award money.

- http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/10/13/nobel.peace.winner.ap/index.html

Peace is linked with economics...that is why.

Kohinoor, there is Nobel prize for Economics.
Loote, isnt being anonymous the greates thing online chat rooms provide? :-) So where I wrote what is up for speculation :-))

Personally I feel that Peace prize was the right category Yunus rather than economics because he hasnt really contributed any economic theory...he started a 'program' that helped people lift themselves out of the poverty. He is a banker, but catering the poor and depending on honor system. It worked like charm and his impact can be felt all over the world.
Even Amartya Sen addressed the issue of development and poverty in the thirld world countries but ended up getting Nobel for Economics. I see his work more as economics than Yunus. He is an economist by training, but so what? Way to go Yunus!

Actually this year's prize is divided into two equal parts, to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank. So it doesn't mean that Yunus is receiving this prize for the economist he is. It actually is the appreciation for the Grameen bank which was full of controversy since it was started.

It is also another slap for the Islamic fundamentalist who even managed to put Yunus on their Jihadi list. Favoring women in the country like Bangladesh was always a risk. He was attacked, his banks were looted but he showed the courage and stood by his principle. When 97% of your total customers are women and men are refused right at their faces in an Islamic country like Bangladesh, yeah you deserve something.

When Shirin Ebadi won the prize in 2003, in the concert they managed to change the lyrics of John Lennon's song Imagine. Instead of "nothing to kill or die for and no religion too" they came out with "Nothing to kill or die for and no division too" . It shows how sensitive these people are and how seriously they take this matter. Let's hope this time nobody is offending any Muslim by any means.

I was happy when wangari got nobel peace prize... Hearing news about Yunus, I am really touched. Seems, like world is finally realiziing importance to fight social problem and poverty to maintain peace in the world... Cheers to Yunus and his Grameen Bank... its is this kind of effort that will really empower poor...we need more social enterprenuers like Yunus...

Congratulations to Dr. Yunus!

He and the Bank he founded (and the business model of which has been globally replicated) richly deserve the award.

Everybody appears to be ecstatic here in Bangladesh on hearing this news.

This country -- which is smaller than Nepal in terms of land-mass produces enough grains to feed its almost 150 million people -- deserves wider recognition in the
world for the pace of development it has adopted in the last one decade.

To be sure, Bangladesh has its problems: the rise of religious fundamentalism, corrupt politics, inadequate infrastructure, etc.

But in the last two years that I have been here for work, I can say that almost all Nepalis who have come here for a visit have gone back being quite impressed with Bangladesh's VISIBLE bikas on so many fronts: health-care, literacy, road networks, mobile phone penetration, overall infrastructure and so on and on.

The refrain among most visiting Nepalis is: "I never knew Bangladesh has done so
much better than Nepal like this. And it looks like Nepal has become actually a lot
more khattam than Bangladesh."

In January 2005, when Kanak Dixit came to Dhaka from Kathmandu by way of road,
he remarked that he found Nepali highways khattam while highways in Bangladesh were/are so much better.

Curiously, in today's (Sat) Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post (online editions), I saw NO mention of Yunus and his Nobel prize, despite the fact that there are many Grameen-like programs running in Nepal.

oohi
"somewhere in Bangladesh"
ashu

I'm sure I have own biases, but increasingly I think that Nepal needs to learn a lot from Bangladesh.

If interested, please find a review I once published in The Nepali Times.

[Thanks to my friends M Hossain, T Hussain, A Huq for their suggestions that made this piece better than what it was before.]

********************
Development by lists

The youngest South Asian country could build upon the resilience of its business community
by Ashutosh Tiwari

From Issue #251 (10 June 05 - 16 June 05) |

Most Nepalis are unsure about what to make of Bangladesh. When asked, they grope for clichés: floods and cyclones, heat and dust, overpopulation and food shortage, poverty and destitution. Others who have been there talk about the allure of Bangladeshi textiles and handicrafts, the zing of Bangla cuisine, Sylhet’s stunningly beautiful tea gardens and mangrove forests of Sundarbans. Some mention the vitality of politically conscious theatre and arts scenes, a few may even hum a stanza or two of evocative Rabindrasangeet.

But tell them how this youngest South Asian country, with a land area that’s slightly smaller than Nepal’s but a population of 150 million, has today created food surpluses. Explain to them its success in reducing population growth at a rate lower than Nepal’s. Describe its pioneering use of micro-credits to help impoverished women through NGO networks.

Talk about how its $ 5 billion-a-year readymade garment industry has managed to maintain a steady growth despite the end of the global quota system. Add further that South Asia’s largest shopping mall opened for business in Dhaka last October and you are likely to hear the inevitably lamentable comparisons with Nepal. To be sure, highlighting Bangladesh’s recent achievements is not going to make its problems related to governance, economy and geography disappear anytime soon. But doing so does recast them as manageable problems that-given the political will, resources and time-are likely to yield solutions.

More at:
- http://www.nepalitimes.com/issue/251/Review/399

Congratulations to Dr. Yunus!!