Self-reliant and self-sufficient economy. Those are two of the most interchangeably used common terms we often hear from our politicians and leaders when they talk about economic development of the state. We must remind ourselves to reexamine the preconceived notions of these two terms. And even more careful to parrot their words. These two terms assume prominence every time there is an economic blockade imposed on us from across the state border or when there is a bandh in the neighbouring state which is quite a common affair. Some remark these two terms as a knee-jerk reaction, while others find it as an opportunity to proclaim the start a long overdue process of freeing the state, or the district, from overdependence on the neighbouring state for trade and commerce, for survival. Here, terms like self-reliance and self-sufficiency sound like magic words but we must first free ourselves from the preconceived notions of these terms.
Economists define self-sufficiency or self-reliance as the state of not requiring any aid, support, interaction or trade from/with the outside world. It other words, a fully self-reliant economy is an autarky which is not possible in the real world today. It is not possible, neither is it advisable, for us to go for autarky or absolute self-sufficiency. Everybody knows that but not many people delve deep into the core of the problem or offer a solution. A speech here laced with terms like self-reliance and a lecture there on self-sufficiency is not going to solve the problem at the macro level.
What we should be ruminating on is economic interdependence. As suggested by the economist Adam Smith, we should specialize in goods that we have an absolute advantage, or at least a comparative advantage, in producing in order to generate more wealth for economic progress. Economics is a science and economic problems cannot be solved by those who do not understand it. The way forward for Mokokchung, or Nagaland by extension, is to have a genuine think tank on economics. It would not be out of place to suggest a Forum for Economic Development of Mokokchung District to make studied propositions and advocacy on economic policies based on empirical research, data and analysis.