Two basic factors shape private sector development in Belize. First, the population is small – only 322,000 as of mid-2008. This limits the size of the domestic market and potential economies of scale. The economy was only US$1.3 billion in 2009 and diversification is limited. The economy depends strongly on trade with the world economy, […]
The Caribbean is at a crossroads. The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the CARICOM Single Market Economy (CSME) herald a more liberalized trading environment with all of the potential benefits that come with the freer movement of goods, services, and labor. At the same time, the loss of preferential access to traditional export markets poses
This paper examines issues that are central to financial market development in the Caribbean region. It also identifies factors that are required for financial markets to function effectively and describes policy options that could be implemented in the Caribbean to make financing more widely available.
Research shows that long-term sustainable growth depends on the quality of a country’s institutions. Without well-functioning institutions, education and training policies are less effective and factor markets cannot function efficiently. Similarly, without well-functioning institutions, infrastructure investment, macroeconomic stability, and trade reform do not lead to competitive, growing economies. Financial systems, which are a central element
Institutions and the Legal Framework for Business Development in the Caribbean Read More »
The purpose of this paper is to apply new methodologies to analyze the history of and future opportunities for structural transformation in the Caribbean. The paper examines the composition of exports from the Caribbean, and shows that the region is specialized in relatively unsophisticated, “poor-country” export products, and this is not simply a consequence of
Policies for Achieving Structural Transformation in the Caribbean Read More »
The World Economic Forum (WEF) views competitiveness as the potential of a country to grow in a sustained way over the medium to long term and thus create prosperity for its citizens. The Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), developed by Professor Xavier Sala-i-Martin of Columbia University together with the WEF, represents a powerful tool to shed
Measuring the Competitiveness of Selected CARICOM Countries – WEF Read More »
While Asia, Africa and Latin America have become important investment destinations for impact investors, the Caribbean has been largely overlooked by existing players as a priority region. Several key factors for this have been identified. The level of socio-economic development in the Caribbean is generally high, which means that the traditional target group for impact
Supply and Demand Side Assessment of Impact Investment within the Caribbean Read More »
This report presents the Trinidad and Tobago Donor Matrix (TT-DMX). Following the suggestion of the guidelines for the preparation of DMX, the TT-DMX has been prepared simultaneously with the Trinidad and Tobago Private Sector Development Assessment (TTPSAR), and although it is written as a free standing document, it is included as an annex of the
Trinidad and Tobago Donor Matrix Report (May 2012) Read More »
This report presents the Suriname Donor Matrix (SU-DMX). Following the suggestion of the guidelines for the preparation of DMX, the SU-DMX has been prepared simultaneously with the Suriname Private Sector Development Assessment (SU-PSAR), and although it is written as a free standing document, it is included as an annex of the SU-PSAR. This introduction presents
The competitiveness and profitability of Jamaican businesses are dependent both on the internal capacities of such entities, and on the existence of an enabling environment that allows private firms to operate efficiently. An enabling business environment and stable macroeconomic climate and are among the most critical pre-requisites of business success. These are, however, also areas
