Belize: assessment of the damage caused by hurricane Keith, 2000: implications for economic, social and environmental development

Global economic developments, 1999

Executive Summary World economic growth gained momentum in 1999 increasing by 3.3 per cent, impelled by vibrant activity in the United States and Asia. The robust United States expansion continued with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing by 4.2 per cent. The European Area with growth of 2.3 per cent experienced similar dynamism. In both of these economies strong GDP growth was matched by firm gains in employment. Growth was also more robust in developing countries, as a whole, but showed important disparity by region. Buoyed by competitive exchange rates and strong demand in the …

Poverty and social integration in the Caribbean

Summary This document looks at seven major indicators of poverty in the region: infant mortality; malnutrition; communicable diseases; employment and income; education; social services such as water, sanitation and housing; and the incidence of natural disasters. There is also some focus on crime and violence and the issue of illicit drugs, as expressions of social deterioration.…

ECLAC Conducts Training Workshops on Assessing the Impacts of Natural Disasters in the Region

CDCC - Twenty-Five Years of Cooperation and Development: 1975-2000

Recent global economic developments

Review of Caribbean economic and social performance in the 1980's and 1990's

Introduction The integration of the world economy gathered momentum in the mid-1980s and continued during the 1990s, through increased trade and financial flows around the world, and the establishment and strengthening of linkages related to the production and distribution of goods and services. Trade flows around the world received a boost from the successful conclusions of the negotiations of the Uruguay Round of trade talks, the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the beginning, in 1995, of the implementation of the 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GA…

A review of social development in the Caribbean in the nineties: World Summit for Social Development (WSSD)+5

Summary Following the World Summit for Social Development steps were taken by the entire United Nations system to support national governments in their efforts to implement the agenda of the Summit. This document assesses developments in health, education, crime and violence, drugs and migration five years after the Summit.…

Summary of Caribbean economic performance, 1998

Summary Structural reforms and other economic policies; economic activity, inflation and employment; monetary developments and changes in public finance; international trade and payments - These are some of the areas examined in this review of the performance of Caribbean economies in 1998. A statistical annex is included.…

Economic profiles of Caribbean countries

Introduction With its programme of assistance to the Caribbean, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean has prepared these economic profiles for 26 independent and non-independent countries of the Caribbean subregion. These countries are: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the G…

Tax performance and reform in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

Introduction Based on the evidence of the last few decades, it is widely accepted that the State can be an obstacle to development. The corollary to this, of course, is that public policy can play a pivotal role in creating a growth-oriented environment and in promoting change. Not surprisingly, the major thrust of the structural reforms of recent years has been in creating a more effective State that can work in partnership with the private sector for the public good. An appropriate regulatory and institutional framework is critical to the functioning of both the financial and real sectors. I…

Globalization of financial markets: implications for the Caribbean

Introduction Globalization can be defined in terms of the internationalization of production [Goode, 1998, p.125], or in terms of the internationalization of markets [Lloyd, 1998, p. 163]. The former recognizes the fact that even relatively minor products are frequently found to be made with components from several countries. The latter, on the other hand, recognizes that the cross border flows of the products themselves have increased tremendously over the last two decades. This is particularly true in the case of international financial services. This report examines the globalizati…

Summary of Caribbean economic performance, 1997

Summary In general economic expansion in the Caribbean countries was slightly more robust in 1997 than in the preceding year. However, the rate of growth experienced by the countries surveyed was more uneven than in 1996. The sectors recording strongest performance were tourism, construction and the distributive trades. Agriculture turned in a mixed performance with declining output in Barbados, Jamaica and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS);. The traditional agricultural exports suffered from deteriorating terms of trade while output in the sector as a whole was adversely…

Directions for the reform process in the Caribbean

Summary This document outlines the recent economic performance of the Caribbean countries and some of the salient issues and problems confronting policy making at this time. A discussion on trading relationships and the prospects facing the Caribbean in the changing regional and world environment follows. The Lome Convention, bananas, the Sugar protocol, the state of the Caribbean Community, CARIBCAN and the CBI are examined in this section. Challenges facing state reform, such as poverty, social services and the financial system are highlighted.…

Report of the technical meeting of information coordinators and database managers

Evolution of fiscal policy in the Caribbean: based on data for the period 1987-1996

Summary Fiscal performance showed modest improvement during the period under review. Deficits contracted and so did national debts. This was possible however only because of reduced spending since revenues - capital, recurrent, and grants in aid - fell. Governments found it easier to reduce spending on the purchase of goods and services and on gross investment rather than on wages and salaries or on transfers. In the countries which had experienced severe disequilibrium in the past and therefore had accumulated a large debt, the legacy of interest payments and amortization charges remained…

Review of Caribbean economic performance, 1997: based on data for the period January to June 1997

Summary An examination of first semester performance provided scant hope for a prosperous 1997. Preliminary indications suggested that output did not increase as quickly across the Caribbean as it did in the first semester of 1996. Fiscal deficits increased in most countries, mainly because of buoyant public spending.…

Summary of Caribbean economic performance, 1996

Summary Notes that the policy objectives facing Caribbean countries in 1996 were remarkably similar across the broad spectrum of countries surveyed. Examines the performance of the economies of Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Netherlands Antilles. Analyzes the sectoral performances of agriculture, minerals, manufacturing and tourism sectors. Examines the fiscal performance of the region under the headings of trade and payments, public finance, external debt, prices and unemployment.…

Proposals for the liberalization of trade and investment in the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Summary Presents an overview of the status of trade liberalization in the countries of the ACS and concludes that most countries have implemented substantial trade and investment reforms which have resulted in more liberalized trading regimes and a more welcoming environment for foreign investment. Obstacles to trade and investment are examined and recommendations made in respect of the ACS Secretariat. , 19970324 , Len Ishmael , Publications 1997 Port of Spain …

Financial liberalisation: its relevance and experiences in the Caribbean