Toward a Business Climate Reform Agenda in the Caribbean

This paper is meant to help national and regional policymakers navigate the complex topic of business climate reform in the Caribbean. It combines the findings of four relatively independent data collection efforts to uncover which aspects of the current business climate most affect the private sector in that region. The analysis from the four sources indicates that the most pressing business climate constraints affecting private sector performance are: (i) an inadequately educated workforce; (ii) the cost of finance, and (iii) access to finance. These issues are discussed in detail along with others that significantly affect private sector development. The paper ends with a regional agenda and country-specific prioritized agendas for business climate reform.