After a couple years of marriage, it seems that the first two questions out of everyone’s mouth is some variation of “so… when are you going to start a family?” and “do you think you’ll settle down in Washington DC?” After carefully delivering non-committal responses, my mind almost always drifts (perhaps to escape further questioning) to two major thoughts: (a) if I were to … [Read more...] about Creative and Cultural Blind Spots
Fiscal Unruliness – Checking the Usual Suspects for Jamaica’s Debt Buildup
When I check my saving account my first reaction is usually to call the bank or the police. I see the balance and I tell myself ‘my God I have been robbed’. However, the truth is that there is no thief to be blamed other than me. I underestimate deductions, forget to budget realistically for regular expenditures and forget about unplanned expenditures. The result of my … [Read more...] about Fiscal Unruliness – Checking the Usual Suspects for Jamaica’s Debt Buildup
The Caribbean’s Fiscal Dilemma: To Cut or Not to Cut?
What has been the technical assistance and policy advice from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to select Caribbean countries in the area of fiscal sustainability? The International Financial Institutions (International Monetary Fund in particular, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank) have invested a lot of resources … [Read more...] about The Caribbean’s Fiscal Dilemma: To Cut or Not to Cut?
Reducing Community Violence Starts at Home
Earlier this month I attended “Crime and Violence in The Bahamas: Data-Driven Policies for Effective Citizen Security”, a workshop jointly hosted by the IDB and the Government of The Bahamas. The purpose of the workshop was to learn about evidence-based approaches to violence reduction that have been successful elsewhere, and consider how stakeholders in The Bahamas can … [Read more...] about Reducing Community Violence Starts at Home
An Innovation Revolution by 2025?
I attended a marvelous thought provoking presentation to IDB staff entitled LAC 2025, led by our president Luis Alberto Moreno. In a modern accessible format, different members of staff guided us through a snapshot of the bank's vision for Latin America in the next 10 years or so. While Caribbean voices were not totally absent (a citizen security project in CTT was … [Read more...] about An Innovation Revolution by 2025?