NASDAQ Run''s

[Arctec]

A study of deprivation and the standard of living supported by the World Bank
Translated by IRAQdirectory.com - [03/03/2007]


Head of the Central Agency for Statistics and Technology Information in the Ministry of Planning, Mahdi Al-Allaq, said that the Agency "calculates the monthly inflation rates based on collecting data of the prices of 450 goods and services, representing most of the Iraqi family expenditure". He explained that the price data "are collected from selected markets in all governorates of Iraq and not limited to Baghdad alone, with contacts now to include Kurdistan". He pointed out that "inflation rates rose in Iraq, in an unprecedented manner, especially last year when it exceeded the rate of 75%".

Reports of the Iraqi Central Bank indicate very high figures of inflation coinciding with those of the Central Agency for Statistics; according to that, the Central Bank set up its strict monetary policy to face up the increasing inflation rates. The opponents of this policy considered it "as a mere facade adopted by the Central Bank to justify its strictness, which inspired the existence of external influences from the IMF".

Al-Allaq mentioned that "the Central Agency for Statistics had started a social and economic survey since last October and lasts for a year; the survey includes studying the aspects of expenditure, income, services, the educational, health and environmental conditions as well as the exploitation of time and the goods owned by the Iraqi family".

He pointed out that the most important data of this survey is to "calculate the poverty line in Iraq" and that it is "implemented with the support of the International Bank and the participation of 300 people from outside the cadre of the Ministry of Planning".

Al-Allaq revealed a study of the map of the level of deprivation and standard of living in Iraq prepared by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning in cooperation with the United Nations' Development Program; this study includes digital indications about the level of deprivation and want in each Iraqi province.