Abstract
Afghanistan is one of the least developed countries of the world. United States of America and several other nations spent hundreds of billions of dollars during the last 13 years to strengthen her economy and security but due to pervasive corruption the country could not absorb the aid effectively. As long as Afghanistan remains resistant to change, and corruption and lawlessness continue to hurt the country, the badly needed foreign assistance, no matter how colossal, will not make much difference.
In this paper, the author explains the historical, geographical and political factors that have plagued and still hinder economic development of Afghanistan. The paper briefly explains land, population, resources and economic aggregates in addition to the historical events that have caused the progress to remain slow. Some recommendations are made at the end.
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Dr. Zabioullah A. Eltezam attended the University of Michigan and moved to Eastern Michigan University where he received a BA in Economics. He received MA and Ph.D. in Economics from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He has taught Economics at Wayne State University, University of Houston, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and Kabul University where he became professor of Economics. Dr. Eltezam served the Afghan government as president of the largest Custom House in Kabul, president of Export Promotion Bank, president of Afghan National Bank, president of Export-Import Corporation, President General of Food Procurement Department, First Deputy Minister of Commerce, Acting Minister of Commerce, and the Governor of the Central Bank with a rank of Minister.
Dr. Eltezam served Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) as a consultant in Bangladesh. Subsequently, he became the Lead Advisor to the Bangladesh Tariff Commission in a World Bank project. Currently he is an adjunct faculty at Chandler Gilbert College in Arizona, USA.
The author has served the Afghan government in various capacities including Acting Minister of Commerce, and Governor of the Central Bank at the rank of Minister. He has also served Harvard institute for International Development as a Lead Consultant to Bangladesh Tariff Commission in a World Bank Project.
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Eltezam, Z. Afghanistan and its Economy. GSTF J Bus Rev 4, 9 (2015). https://doi.org/10.7603/s40706-015-0009-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.7603/s40706-015-0009-2