After two tumultuous years, 2023 remains characterized by headwinds facing countries across the world. Our previous publications have highlighted the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 shock to economies across the Caribbean region, particularly given its extreme dependence on external demand for resources, tourism, and finance. Just as the pandemic’s effects began to … [Read more...] about Headwinds facing the post-pandemic recovery in the Caribbean
Caribbean development
Financial Access for Firms: Jamaica’s Challenges and Opportunities
Jamaica’s successful and sustained reform efforts over the past decade have laid the foundation for more rapid financial development, but findings suggest that access to finance remains a major obstacle to investment, innovation, and development for firms across the region—particularly smaller enterprises and those led by women. Download A new joint … [Read more...] about Financial Access for Firms: Jamaica’s Challenges and Opportunities
5 Obstacles to Overcome for a more Productive Caribbean
Caribbean economies have hardly grown in the last 30 years. The last significant growth was in the 1980s when tourism and banana production expanded, but has since declined due to the loss of competitiveness in the bananas market and the emergence of other tourism destinations. To make matters worse, the Caribbean countries are severely indebted and have very limited options to … [Read more...] about 5 Obstacles to Overcome for a more Productive Caribbean
Improving Rural Electrification in Suriname
For decades, a high-voltage transmission line has passed through the Amerindian village of Powakka, located in the district of Para in Suriname, without benefiting the community. The 161kV transmission line transports to Paramaribo the electricity generated by the Afobaka Hydropower Plant, historically the country’s main source of electricity. However, the village never had a … [Read more...] about Improving Rural Electrification in Suriname
3 Reasons why you should stop eating Parrotfish
Image source: Wikicommons After living in Jamaica for five years, every time I visit for work, I try to squeeze in whatever time I have to say hello to friends. On my last visit, I was very fortunate to have meetings on both sides of the weekend allowing me to spend my off days in a familiar place with familiar people. My friends and I decided to take advantage of this rare … [Read more...] about 3 Reasons why you should stop eating Parrotfish