Lush sandy beaches, beautiful clear aqua-blue waters, sunshine, a beach towel and a martini. For most, a dream vacation, especially for those that live in colder climates and landlocked areas. The Bahamas has been one of the luxury vacation hot-spots for decades. It is known for attracting celebrities. The Bahamian tourism brochures are still exploiting the nostalgia, … [Read more...] about Bahamas a golden past, but what will the future bring?
Social Systems
Can measuring the impact of economic development come down to centimeters?
Haiti’s hydroelectric plant, built in Péligre forty years ago, has reached the end of its life cycle. With a generating capacity of 54 MW, Péligre is the largest power plant in the country and the biggest civil engineering work that the country has known, save the construction of the Citadelle Laferrière. The driving force behind the plant is a barrage in the Artibonite River … [Read more...] about Can measuring the impact of economic development come down to centimeters?
The “Coffee-Stain Puzzle”
I have always found it fascinating to learn about how scientific “discoveries” are made. Scientists have the power of observing the ordinary and seeing the extraordinary. One of my favorite cases comes from an episode I watched some years ago on the Discovery Channel where a Physics professor from the University of Chicago, Sidney Nagel, one morning, as he was pouring himself a … [Read more...] about The “Coffee-Stain Puzzle”
Remittances as a Safety Net in Jamaica
This policy brief answers three main questions for the Jamaican economy: (a) Do remittances act as a safety net during negative health shocks? (b) Are remittances subject to moral hazard by receivers? (c) How does formal health insurance interact with remittances as a safety net during adverse health episodes? Evidence suggests that remittances offer full protection against … [Read more...] about Remittances as a Safety Net in Jamaica
All disabilities are not created equal
by Charmaine Edmonson-Nelson There are disabilities, there are disabilities and then there are disabilities! This was brought home starkly to me during last summer, when I was enrolling my son in a week long day camp for children with special needs. A simple question from the volunteer at the registration desk sent me into a panic. “Does he have a hearing or a speech … [Read more...] about All disabilities are not created equal