Abstract for: Conceptualizing Human Centered Development -The Case Pakistan

This paper presents a system dynamics based macroeconomic model of the Pakistan. The model comprises of population, human development, production, international trade and system of national accounts, and public finance modules. Conscious efforts have been made to achieve the best possible blend of standard long-run theories and country-specific features to model underlying system structure of human centered development in Pakistan by focusing on long-term dynamics. The tracking performance of the model is evaluated. Empirical investigation of a number of topical macroeconomic issues utilizing model simulations have shown the model to be useful which would be extended to address ‘spatial’ dimension of socioeconomic planning issues of Pakistan. The model helps to better conceptualize the underlying system structure to bring in a broad-based improvement in the human condition without forgoing economic growth. It highlights the need to mobilize cost effective resource generation and suggests that priority be given to allocation of public finance to human development and not the economic services and infrastructure confirming that human development and economic growth are interdependent and intertwined in feedback processes which are mutually reinforcing and that human development is not only an end in itself but is a means to achieve higher productivity as well. This challenges the very basis of continued disregard of human development by public finance managers of Pakistan.