The Iranian economy is shrinking and showing negative growth, according to statistics from the latest World Bank report. They wrote that the Iranian economy has shrunk by 16.5 percent over three years, which means that the already deprived populace only saw their purchasing power shrink.
This was to be expected, but a strange part of the report predicts economic growth of 1.5 percent in 2021, something the state-affiliated experts and the Parliament Research Centre have rejected.
Economic analysts there have advised that there is no sign of the problems facing the country resolving themselves, which will only mean more financial stress to come for the country and ordinary Iranians.
One expert told Donyay-e Eghtesad daily in December that the situation is different in Iran, compared with most other countries, with “corruption” resulting in “unfavorable” conditions.
“We should not pursue economic growth and production boom and inflation at all, which are nothing more than a mirage at the moment, but what is possible, and desirable is ‘economic predictability and stability,’” the Parliament (Majlis) Research Center said about the 2021 budget.
Given that the Research Centre has historically published falsely optimistic reports over the economy, this should show how bad things are, with the Donyay-e-Eghtesad saying the report predicts “hyperinflation” should things continue. The Centre’s report advised that even in the case of “significant positive economic growth,” there would still be no like-for-like improvement in living conditions for the poor.
“Studies and evaluations of international institutions and government centers show that the expectation of growth and the dream of overcoming the incurable economic crisis is nothing more than a crude fantasy. It means that, under mullahs’ rule, there is no window of hope for improving the living conditions of the millions of poor people who are suffering from hunger and disease,” the Iranian Resistance wrote.
Therefore, if even the state-affiliated experts and research center do not believe there will be an increase in economic growth or an improvement in people’s livelihood, then what’s next?
Quite simply, the people are expected to rise up against the political establishment, as they have done on multiple occasions when triggered by the economic situation.
The likelihood is that this will soon turn into a political thing, with protesters targeting the ruling system as a whole for the situation and other crises. This may well lead to major changes inside Iran.
During recent months, Iranian authorities frequently warn each other about the army of hunger and unemployed citizens, who see the ayatollahs as the country’s main barrier toward progress, glory, and welfare.
Iranian Officials fail to Address Problems; Protests Imminent
