Guyana’s economy is on the verge of a historic transformation following recent oil discoveries. Financial sector development and inclusion will be crucial to maximize the benefits of faster growth and increased revenues. However, financial access and inclusion in the country are lagging, which hinders firms’ productivity and performance. A new publication from IDB economists … [Read more...] about Six Recommendations to Ensure Guyana’s Oil Wealth is More Financially Inclusive
Finance
Barriers to Financial Access in Barbados—Key Challenges and Focal Areas for Reform
The mobilization of domestic financial resources is increasingly recognized as an important development challenge for countries around the world—this is also true for Barbados. Barriers to financial access act as a brake on private sector investment and growth, with adverse implications for broader economic development objectives. In order to shed light on this issue, our … [Read more...] about Barriers to Financial Access in Barbados—Key Challenges and Focal Areas for Reform
Podcast Series: Financial Development and Inclusion in Jamaica and the Caribbean
Here is a new feature from the IDB’s Caribbean Country Department: Improving Caribbean Lives podcasts for in-depth discussions of emerging Caribbean development ideas and trends. Listen to the series included in some of our blogs and also available on SoundCloud. A recent Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) publication entitled: “Jamaica: Financial Development, Access … [Read more...] about Podcast Series: Financial Development and Inclusion in Jamaica and the Caribbean
Why is financial inclusion so important, and what common challenges does Jamaica face? (Part 2)
Despite tremendous strides towards economic stabilization, fiscal responsibility, and debt reduction, financial sector depth and development in Jamaica lags behind many of its peers. Recent improvements in institutional capacity, policy discipline, and structural factors suggest that there is considerable scope to accelerate financial sector development and to broaden access … [Read more...] about Why is financial inclusion so important, and what common challenges does Jamaica face? (Part 2)
Are fiscal rules the solution to the Caribbean’s fiscal woes?
Caribbean countries face serious fiscal and debt challenges. As recorded in the most recent OECD Latin American and Caribbean Economic Outlook 2018, two Caribbean countries hold the highest debt in the region: Barbados and Jamaica. Public debt by currency and legislation, circa 2016 (central government, % of GDP) Source: OECD Latin American and Caribbean Economic Outlook … [Read more...] about Are fiscal rules the solution to the Caribbean’s fiscal woes?