September 9th: Arriving at my destination to speak at a Venture Capital conference sponsored by a local government agency. September 10th and 12th: Attending the inauguration of the country’s Start-Up program and meeting the women behind that initiative and Startup Weekend. Listening to the manager of a prestigious private sector incubator. September 11th and 12th: Meeting … [Read more...] about A country is hit by the entrepreneurial bug and start-up culture
Economy & Investment
How does decentralizing the government make buying a pencil easier?
Decentralization and Local Government Strengthening Program II (DLGP II) is the continuation of the first project under the same name, which was also financed by the IDB. DLGP II continues to support Suriname’s local government decentralization efforts and to contribute toward attaining a core legal framework, the program also assists new pilot districts of Paramaribo, … [Read more...] about How does decentralizing the government make buying a pencil easier?
Smallness hurts, but does it constrain growth?
Recent research presented in Is There a Caribbean Sclerosis? Stagnating Economic Growth in the Caribbean and Does Size Matter? Yes, If You are Caribbean! shows that small economies—defined as countries with populations of less than 3 million—face several unique size-driven macroeconomic challenges and discusses whether or not smallness actually represents a binding constraint … [Read more...] about Smallness hurts, but does it constrain growth?
Jamaica Nuff Problem mon!
https://vimeo.com/81012789 I was in Jamaica to attend the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Partnership Forum and decided to participate in a session called Fighting Climate Change through Entrepreneurship in the Caribbean, hoping to pick some fellow colleagues brains and discuss some synergies in our work. Just in time when a gracious lady opened her presentation with the … [Read more...] about Jamaica Nuff Problem mon!
Big Jump in the Doing Business Indicator Ranking, More Improvements Expected
50-what? That was my reaction when the IDB representative told me the news that Jamaica had moved up in the World Bank’s Doing Business indicator from 94 in 2014 to 58 in 2015 (the World Bank changed the methodology, so officially they moved from 85 to 58, not too bad either). We all know that Jamaica is in the process of doing a series of reforms that will positively impact … [Read more...] about Big Jump in the Doing Business Indicator Ranking, More Improvements Expected