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
debt-to-GDP ratio
Investing Strategically: Tying the Budget to the Vision in the Bahamas
The new Baha Mar development, photo by Wilshire Bethel In 2015, the Bahamian people will articulate the Nation's first ever cross-sectorial National Development Plan. This plan, penned by the people through widespread consultation, will put to paper their collective vision as to what life in The Bahamas will look like in the decades to come. It is a necessary step for the … [Read more...] about Investing Strategically: Tying the Budget to the Vision in the Bahamas
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
Jamaica at a Crossroads
The upbeat sentiment following the signing of the Extended Fund Facility with the IMF on May 1, 2013 was short-lived. The approval by the IMF board marked the beginning of a heavy, front loaded adjustment that is being felt now. And it has not been an easy six months. … [Read more...] about Jamaica at a Crossroads