With growth rates for the World Economy of 3.8 percent in 2017 (and similar expectations for 2018), the IMF declared in 2018 that the World Economy was in a ‘cyclical upswing’ but also warned that ‘For most countries, current favorable growth rates will not last.’ That forecast has proven to be correct, even though the speed at which the World Economy has slowed has come as a … [Read more...] about A Synchronized Slowdown of the Global Economy – Is the Caribbean in Sync?
One Stop Care Team - No Laughing Matter in Trinidad and Tobago
We all know someone who has a chronic health condition, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. They’ve become almost a daily part of Caribbean conversation; something so common that they’re almost expected to be mentioned on greeting. We speak casually about them, and at times, jokingly. And yet at the same time, they’re something we know are both serious and deadly. As … [Read more...] about One Stop Care Team – No Laughing Matter in Trinidad and Tobago
What role do employers play in developing skills for the future of work?
New technologies are rapidly changing the skills and abilities that are required in the workplace. By 2020, it is estimated that a quarter of the global workforce will have to look for a new job or radically expand their profiles to include digital and foundational skills. In the Caribbean, this challenge is pressing because some of the key sectors in economies like Jamaica and … [Read more...] about What role do employers play in developing skills for the future of work?
What’s in a number? Opening the black box of GDP measurement
A country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is defined as the monetary value of all final goods and services produced by a nation’s economy. Even though it has many shortcomings[1], GDP – also expressed in per capita terms or growth rates– is still used as one of the main measures to gauge development and discuss economic performance (see, e.g., Dynan and Sheiner, 2018). But … [Read more...] about What’s in a number? Opening the black box of GDP measurement
Recognizing service in the public service
When we think about public services in Trinidad and Tobago, long waiting lines, poor customer service, understaffed offices and outdated technologies may come to mind. However, no one can argue that the public service isn’t vital to supporting a country’s economy, preserving the well being of its citizens (especially the most vulnerable) and maintaining order. Indeed, we often … [Read more...] about Recognizing service in the public service