Caribbean Outlook 3: Economic recovery and repositioning in the era of COVID-19. Policy Brief

The economies of the subregion were hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those dependent on tourism. As a result, the Caribbean has seen a reversal of the hard-won gains achieved in growing their economies and reducing unemployment and inequality. The inflation stemming from pandemic supply chain disruption, which has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, has made the sustained uptick in economic performance beyond pre-pandemic levels unlikely, notwithstanding strong growth estimates for 2021 and 2022. The last two years have taught the region that continued ‘business as usual’ is…

The Caribbean and the post-2015 development agenda

This paper will contend that the post-2015 development agenda presents a major opportunity for Caribbean countries to reverse decades of lagging economic performance and make the transition to balanced, holistic, and people-centred growth and development. The MDGs, while valuable in promoting gains in poverty reduction, health, education, nutrition, and maternal well-being were not tailored to the growth and development needs of the region. This can now be changed by a post-2015 development agenda which goes beyond improving the welfare of citizens by meeting basic needs and enhancing access t…

Intellectual property rights and sustainable development: a survey of major issues

From a broad sustainable development viewpoint, intellectual property (IP) might relate to a number of aspects of a country's social and economic development. Its impact can be felt in industrial, health, education, nutrition, biodiversity and cultural policies. In exploring the issues relating to sustainable development and the important changes that have taken place in the IP landscape, we will focus on issues that are drawing particular attention in major international for and to developments that are taking place in bilateral trade negotiations.This paper will thus focus on understand…

Piden brindar apoyo urgente a los países del Caribe para que puedan avanzar en el cumplimiento de los ODS en el contexto de la pandemia

Autoridades, funcionarios de las Naciones Unidas y representantes de la sociedad civil pidieron brindar apoyo urgente a los países del Caribe para que puedan avanzar en el cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030 en un contexto de gran debilidad financiera producto de la pandemia del COVID-19 y de los impactos de los desastres naturales, entre otros factores, durante una sesión de la cuarta reunión del Foro de los Países de América Latina y el Caribe sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible. El panel titulado Construir un futuro mejor en el Caribe: temas clave para…

An analysis of the art and craft sector and its potential for sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean

Art and craft is considered to be an integral part of the tourism business, since it plays an important role as souvenirs and mementos, thereby spatially and temporarily expanding the visitor experience. It is also increasingly looked upon as an opportunity to diversify the tourism sector offerings, as well as the broader economic base. As part of the overall global creative economy, the art and craft sector has seen consistent trade growth over the past two decades, and has shown the capacity to forge even stronger linkages with the tourism sector. This paper examines the nature of this relat…

Strategies for Post COVID-19 Recovery in the Caribbean