AMID a plethora of rumours doing the rounds these days, the most `credible` seems to be the one related to the introduction of a mini budget in parliament. As far as the masses are concerned, that is the only thing they are worried about, knowing fully well that whatever happens in the political domain does not affect them one bit in terms of direct impact. They are reeling under a severe economic burden already and fear that a mini budget will break their back almost literally.
Having said that, one must also remember that the term `mini budget` carried some weight in the days that are long gone. Today, there is a mini budget every day;in certain cases, several times a day. Unannounced and uncontrolled price spikes are the order of the day, and we all have to live with it.
It defies logic that Iran has been under severe economic sanctions for decades, and yet it survives. The case of North Korea is even more mindboggling.
It is a state with which no country wants to have any trade interaction.
But it is surviving without seeking loans. We do that all the time right, left and centre. The fact is that we have been doing that for as long as human memory works. Yet, our problems never seem to end.
Indonesia, the 16th largest economy in the world, has a single efficient product that it exports; palm oil. That covers all its expenses and keeps the economy in a good shape.
We cannot find one consistently exportable product even though we keep telling everyone and ourselves what a `gifted` country and nation we happen to be.
