The Caribbean is often described using the moniker “high debt, low growth,” yet this has not truly been the case until recently. The Caribbean Economic Team’s Quarterly Regional Bulletin contends that debt is or is forecasted to become too high in the Caribbean—perhaps crossing into the “dark side.” The Caribbean debt benchmark, used to judge whether debt is too high, is … [Read more...] about The Dark Side of Debt
Barbados
Three Strategies to Transform the Caribbean’s Energy Sector
Photo: IDB Sustainable Cities, Solar energy project in Jamaica. The Caribbean energy sector is ripe for change – its long-standing dependence on fossil fuels has ensured that citizens pay some of the highest energy rates in the world. However, by making a commitment to changes in infrastructure, investment in sustainable energy, and the modernization of the legal and … [Read more...] about Three Strategies to Transform the Caribbean’s Energy Sector
“Fat Tax” – A Pause for Concern
A recent proposal for the introduction of a “fat tax” in Barbados has raised the noise level on the obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCD) debate in Barbados as well as health-related issues on a wider level. This debate has been largely emotional as the loudest voices at times ignored that the proposal was really for a tax on the foods that contribute to unhealthy living … [Read more...] about “Fat Tax” – A Pause for Concern
No skills = no jobs: Building the skillsets of unemployed youth in the Caribbean
by Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen & Siobhan Pangerl More than one-quarter of the world’s 7.3 billion people are between the ages of 10 and 24, according to a recent UN Population Fund Report. That means there are more than 1.8 billion youth—a historic high—who are actively looking for a job or will be soon. For the most part, developing countries are on the receiving end of … [Read more...] about No skills = no jobs: Building the skillsets of unemployed youth in the Caribbean
Crime in Paradise: Preview of Forthcoming IDB Study on Crime in the Caribbean
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