As in other parts of the LAC region, crime and violence have deeply negative effects on businesses and individuals in the Caribbean. The IDB has supported data generation in the region using victimization surveys for individuals and businesses, the highlights of which are presented in this month’s quarterly bulletin with a special focus on crime. … [Read more...] about Crime in Paradise: Preview of Forthcoming IDB Study on Crime in the Caribbean
Economy & Investment
Jumpstarting Sustainable Microfinance in The Bahamas
The English-speaking Caribbean has its own particular brand of microfinance. Microentrepreneurs in these countries tend to rely on personal savings and informal sources of funds to finance their businesses, rather than the microcredit that is favored in the rest of Latin America. Savings rates in the English-speaking Caribbean average more than 90%, significantly higher than … [Read more...] about Jumpstarting Sustainable Microfinance in The Bahamas
Caribbean Economic Outlook of 2016 – On Wrong Track Already?
Things certainly change quickly in today’s world. One month ago, we published the last Quarterly Bulletin, which looked back at main developments in the region and provided an economic outlook for 2016. Given that the United States Federal Reserve had just increased its benchmark interest rates for the first time in almost a decade, we also explored how a gradual increase in US … [Read more...] about Caribbean Economic Outlook of 2016 – On Wrong Track Already?
Why Is Project Procurement Still So Difficult? Part II
Photo author Magda Theodate Part II of II In this continuing coverage of the challenges of effective project procurement implementation in the Caribbean, additional modern solutions to unleash the potential for success in project procurement are considered: … [Read more...] about Why Is Project Procurement Still So Difficult? Part II
Why Is Project Procurement Still So Difficult? Part I
Photo author Magda Theodate PART I of II In December 2013, the IDB conducted a multi-country procurement operational efficiency analysis to identify factors that cause project implementation delays. The study revealed key issues affecting project execution, and despite the IDB’s excellent work since to strengthen and adopt national procurement systems, the subject is … [Read more...] about Why Is Project Procurement Still So Difficult? Part I