The bazaar of opinion

CHANTILLY, VA, US: This is with reference to Khurram Husain’s article “The bazaar of opinion” (July 15). I’m surprised that Husain has left out the opinions expressed by so-called renowned economists on the talk shows he refers to. I don’t have the kind of TV that some expatriates in the US have, I am often told about what goes on and passes for sensible economic discourse. It is quite astonishing. But one starts to feel sad that people are being fed such simplistic garbage and vitriol.

Of course there are always exceptions. Some of our renowned economists are sensible, starting with our finance minister. But I am sure that is when people change the channel because they want to be entertained and not have someone tell them, hey, we have international obligations and we must meet them or mundane things like “macroeconomic stability is pro-growth”.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2010.