Albeit at different rates, Caribbean countries have seen their populations gradually age over time. This is the result of several factors including falling fertility rates, emigration of its working population and increasing life expectancies. Even though population aging is the result of important social achievements, such as the increase in life expectancy, it … [Read more...] about Resilient Safety Nets: Future-Proofing Retirement Incomes in the Caribbean
Economy & Investment
A New Year’s Fiscal Resolution: Deal with Debt in the Caribbean
Caribbean economies have recovered from the pandemic-induced recession, but one legacy that lingers is public debt accumulation. This was an inevitable consequence of the sharp economic decline and social needs created by the pandemic, and with the recovery, progress has been made in lowering the burden of public debt. Yet, average debt levels remain elevated, and changing … [Read more...] about A New Year’s Fiscal Resolution: Deal with Debt in the Caribbean
Riding the economic waves: Trinidad and Tobago’s navigation through the headwinds
While 2022 represented a year of recovery for the Caribbean, following drastic economic contractions for many economies in 2020, exogenous economic shocks derailed anticipated progress. High fuel prices spurred increases in transportation and electricity costs across the region, contributing to rising headline inflation. The most recent edition of the IDB’s Caribbean Economics … [Read more...] about Riding the economic waves: Trinidad and Tobago’s navigation through the headwinds
Financial Challenges for Bahamian Firms
Financial institutions and markets are integral in enabling transactions, intermediating savings for businesses in need of financing, allocating scarce financial resources and facilitating risk diversification. Modern economies rely on these financial institutions and markets to finance private sector development. For economies like The Bahamas, the post-pandemic recovery will … [Read more...] about Financial Challenges for Bahamian Firms
Give Credit Where It Is Due: Firm Financing in a Post-Pandemic Caribbean
Joint research from the IDB’s Caribbean Department, IDB Invest, and the Complete Caribbean Partnership uses enterprise survey data to highlight that firms from across the Caribbean face challenges when it comes to access to finance, particularly given the depth and development of credit and capital markets. Findings suggest that the most pressing barriers to finance are … [Read more...] about Give Credit Where It Is Due: Firm Financing in a Post-Pandemic Caribbean