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
Jamaica
The best beaches in Latin America: development and conservation
Carlos Argentino, one of the classic interpreters of tropical music, used to sing, “Life is more fun in the sea.” And it's true that beaches in Latin America and the Caribbean are among the best in the world. They are public spaces that bring together all of society, and many of them contribute to the preservation of the environment and the economic development of their … [Read more...] about The best beaches in Latin America: development and conservation
Climate finance and Climate Investment Funds
What do Bob Marley and climate change have in common? Never would I have thought there might be a connection between Bob Marley and climate change. “It’s all about ‘One Love,’” repeated the Honorable Minister Ian Hayles of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, when he opened the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) Partnership Forum in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Obviously the … [Read more...] about Climate finance and Climate Investment Funds
What do you mean by “Caribbean” anyway?
Ironically, while thoroughly entertaining myself elbow-deep in Guyanese pepper-pot, I received a work request over the weekend to address the issue of Caribbean identity. I also became aware of a heated on-going debate on our blog as to how we should define and boundary the concept of “the Caribbean” – past colonial affiliations; imaginary lines in the deep blue sea; economic … [Read more...] about What do you mean by “Caribbean” anyway?
Is there something wrong with the Caribbean?
This blog is the second in our series of five blogs on economic stagnation in the Caribbean. Our first blog “Smallness hurts, but does it constrain growth?” showed that, while smallness creates several economic problems, it does not constrain growth. With that as a starting point, in this post we illustrate two important ways in which the Caribbean stands … [Read more...] about Is there something wrong with the Caribbean?