Jamaica - Country Economic Memorandum : Unlocking Growth

The objective of this report is to identify the main obstacles to longer term growth in Jamaica. The report takes a holistic approach, examining a large set of economic and social factors that may be hindering growth and filtering them through a g...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: World Bank
Format: Country Economic Memorandum
Language:English
Published: World Bank 2012
Subjects:
CDF
GDP
TAX
WTO
Online Access:http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000386194_20110608003811
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2756
id okr-10986-2756
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
topic ACCOUNTANT
ACCOUNTING
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
ADVERSE EFFECTS
AGRICULTURE
ALLOCATION
ALLOCATION OF CAPITAL
BENCHMARKING
BINDING CONSTRAINT
BRAIN DRAIN
BUDGETING
BUREAUCRACY
CAPITAL FLOWS
CAPITAL FORMATION
CAPITAL GOODS
CAPITAL STOCK
CDF
COMMON LAW
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
COMPETITIVENESS
CONFEDERATION
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
CORPORATE TAX RATES
CORPORATION
CROWDING OUT
CURRENCY
DEBT
DEBT MANAGEMENT
DEBT SERVICE
DEBT SWAP
DEBT-SERVICING COSTS
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORY
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ECONOMICS
ELASTICITIES
ELASTICITY
EMPIRICAL STUDIES
ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL
EQUIPMENT
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
EXCHANGE RATES
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
EXPORT SHARE
EXPORTERS
EXPORTS
FEMALE LABOR
FEMALE LABOR FORCE
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL MARKETS
FINANCIAL SECTOR
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FISCAL DEFICITS
FISCAL DISCIPLINE
FISCAL POLICIES
FISCAL POLICY
FIXED CAPITAL
FIXED INVESTMENT
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
FOREIGN INVESTMENT
FREE TRADE
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GINI COEFFICIENT
GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GOVERNMENT REVENUE
GOVERNMENT REVENUES
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
GROSS VALUE
GROWTH POTENTIAL
GROWTH RATE
HUMAN CAPITAL
HUMAN RESOURCES
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME TAX
INCOME TAXES
INFLATION
INNOVATION
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL MARKET
INVESTING
INVESTMENT ALLOCATION
INVESTMENT CLIMATE
INVESTMENT RATES
LABOR FORCE
LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKET INDICATORS
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOUR
LABOUR FORCE
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
LEGAL SYSTEM
LEGITIMACY
LIBERALIZATION OF TRADE
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL ECONOMY
MANPOWER
MARKET ECONOMY
MARKET SHARE
MATHEMATICS
MINIMUM WAGE
MOTIVATION
NATIONAL SAVING
NATURAL DISASTERS
NOMINAL INCOME
OCCUPATIONS
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES
PERVERSE INCENTIVES
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL STABILITY
POTENTIAL INVESTORS
PRIVATE FINANCING
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PUBLIC DEBT
PUBLIC FINANCES
PUBLIC INVESTMENT
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SPENDING
RATE OF RETURN
RATES OF RETURN
REAL GDP
REAL INTEREST
REAL INTEREST RATES
REAL WAGES
REMITTANCES
RENT-SEEKING BEHAVIOR
REPUBLIC
RETIREMENT
RETURNS
RISK AVERSE
RULE OF LAW
SAFETY
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
SKILLED LABOR
STATE INTERVENTION
TAX
TAX EXEMPTIONS
TAX INCENTIVES
TAX POLICIES
TAX POLICY
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REGIME
TAX REVENUE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
TRADE UNIONS
UNEMPLOYMENT
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
UNSKILLED WORKERS
VALUE ADDED
WAGE DISTRIBUTION
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
WTO
spellingShingle ACCOUNTANT
ACCOUNTING
ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
ADVERSE EFFECTS
AGRICULTURE
ALLOCATION
ALLOCATION OF CAPITAL
BENCHMARKING
BINDING CONSTRAINT
BRAIN DRAIN
BUDGETING
BUREAUCRACY
CAPITAL FLOWS
CAPITAL FORMATION
CAPITAL GOODS
CAPITAL STOCK
CDF
COMMON LAW
COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE
COMPETITIVENESS
CONFEDERATION
CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
CORPORATE TAX RATES
CORPORATION
CROWDING OUT
CURRENCY
DEBT
DEBT MANAGEMENT
DEBT SERVICE
DEBT SWAP
DEBT-SERVICING COSTS
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
DEVELOPMENT BANK
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC HISTORY
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
ECONOMICS
ELASTICITIES
ELASTICITY
EMPIRICAL STUDIES
ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL
EQUIPMENT
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
EXCHANGE RATES
EXPENDITURE
EXPENDITURES
EXPORT PERFORMANCE
EXPORT SHARE
EXPORTERS
EXPORTS
FEMALE LABOR
FEMALE LABOR FORCE
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
FINANCIAL MARKETS
FINANCIAL SECTOR
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FISCAL DEFICITS
FISCAL DISCIPLINE
FISCAL POLICIES
FISCAL POLICY
FIXED CAPITAL
FIXED INVESTMENT
FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
FOREIGN INVESTMENT
FREE TRADE
GDP
GDP PER CAPITA
GINI COEFFICIENT
GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GOVERNMENT REVENUE
GOVERNMENT REVENUES
GOVERNMENT SPENDING
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION
GROSS VALUE
GROWTH POTENTIAL
GROWTH RATE
HUMAN CAPITAL
HUMAN RESOURCES
INCOME
INCOME DISTRIBUTION
INCOME TAX
INCOME TAXES
INFLATION
INNOVATION
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
INTEREST RATES
INTERNATIONAL MARKET
INVESTING
INVESTMENT ALLOCATION
INVESTMENT CLIMATE
INVESTMENT RATES
LABOR FORCE
LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKET INDICATORS
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOUR
LABOUR FORCE
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
LEGAL SYSTEM
LEGITIMACY
LIBERALIZATION OF TRADE
LIVING CONDITIONS
LOCAL ECONOMY
MANPOWER
MARKET ECONOMY
MARKET SHARE
MATHEMATICS
MINIMUM WAGE
MOTIVATION
NATIONAL SAVING
NATURAL DISASTERS
NOMINAL INCOME
OCCUPATIONS
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES
PERVERSE INCENTIVES
POLITICAL ECONOMY
POLITICAL STABILITY
POTENTIAL INVESTORS
PRIVATE FINANCING
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT
PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
PUBLIC DEBT
PUBLIC FINANCES
PUBLIC INVESTMENT
PUBLIC SECTOR
PUBLIC SPENDING
RATE OF RETURN
RATES OF RETURN
REAL GDP
REAL INTEREST
REAL INTEREST RATES
REAL WAGES
REMITTANCES
RENT-SEEKING BEHAVIOR
REPUBLIC
RETIREMENT
RETURNS
RISK AVERSE
RULE OF LAW
SAFETY
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
SKILLED LABOR
STATE INTERVENTION
TAX
TAX EXEMPTIONS
TAX INCENTIVES
TAX POLICIES
TAX POLICY
TAX RATE
TAX RATES
TAX REGIME
TAX REVENUE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
TRADE UNIONS
UNEMPLOYMENT
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
UNSKILLED WORKERS
VALUE ADDED
WAGE DISTRIBUTION
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
WTO
World Bank
Jamaica - Country Economic Memorandum : Unlocking Growth
geographic_facet Latin America & Caribbean
Caribbean
America
Jamaica
description The objective of this report is to identify the main obstacles to longer term growth in Jamaica. The report takes a holistic approach, examining a large set of economic and social factors that may be hindering growth and filtering them through a growth diagnostic analysis to narrow the focus to those that constrain growth the most. Building on the results of the growth diagnostic analysis, the report then discusses each key obstacle and identifies possible reform scenarios to unlock growth in Jamaica. The report also examines how the country might further accelerate growth through private sector development. This Country Economic Memorandum assesses the key causes that have stalled Jamaica's economy over the past four decades and presents recommendations to unlock its growth potential. There is a basis for optimism in that Jamaica has had political stability, high rates of private investment, significant reduction of poverty in rural and urban areas, and improved income distribution. Nonetheless, this report shows that, since independence in 1962, long-term economic growth has been disappointing and underperformed most other countries. The findings of this study indicate that Jamaica's disappointing economic performance is traceable to low productivity caused by (i) deficiencies in human capital and entrepreneurship that are due to high migration rates and to deficiencies in the quality of education and training offered to the labor force, among other factors, (ii) a high rate of crime, and (iii) distortionary tax incentives combined with 'enclave' development that does not spill over to the rest of the economy.
format Economic & Sector Work :: Country Economic Memorandum
author World Bank
author_facet World Bank
author_sort World Bank
title Jamaica - Country Economic Memorandum : Unlocking Growth
title_short Jamaica - Country Economic Memorandum : Unlocking Growth
title_full Jamaica - Country Economic Memorandum : Unlocking Growth
title_fullStr Jamaica - Country Economic Memorandum : Unlocking Growth
title_full_unstemmed Jamaica - Country Economic Memorandum : Unlocking Growth
title_sort jamaica - country economic memorandum : unlocking growth
publisher World Bank
publishDate 2012
url http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000386194_20110608003811
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2756
_version_ 1764385901572521984
spelling okr-10986-27562021-04-23T14:02:04Z Jamaica - Country Economic Memorandum : Unlocking Growth World Bank ACCOUNTANT ACCOUNTING ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ADVERSE EFFECTS AGRICULTURE ALLOCATION ALLOCATION OF CAPITAL BENCHMARKING BINDING CONSTRAINT BRAIN DRAIN BUDGETING BUREAUCRACY CAPITAL FLOWS CAPITAL FORMATION CAPITAL GOODS CAPITAL STOCK CDF COMMON LAW COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE COMPETITIVENESS CONFEDERATION CONTINGENT LIABILITIES CORPORATE TAX RATES CORPORATION CROWDING OUT CURRENCY DEBT DEBT MANAGEMENT DEBT SERVICE DEBT SWAP DEBT-SERVICING COSTS DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION DEVELOPMENT BANK DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY DISPUTE RESOLUTION ECONOMIC ACTIVITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC HISTORY ECONOMIC IMPACT ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE ECONOMICS ELASTICITIES ELASTICITY EMPIRICAL STUDIES ENABLING ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENTAL EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE CONTROLS EXCHANGE RATES EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURES EXPORT PERFORMANCE EXPORT SHARE EXPORTERS EXPORTS FEMALE LABOR FEMALE LABOR FORCE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL MARKETS FINANCIAL SECTOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FISCAL DEFICITS FISCAL DISCIPLINE FISCAL POLICIES FISCAL POLICY FIXED CAPITAL FIXED INVESTMENT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FOREIGN INVESTMENT FREE TRADE GDP GDP PER CAPITA GINI COEFFICIENT GOVERNMENT GUARANTEES GOVERNMENT POLICIES GOVERNMENT REVENUE GOVERNMENT REVENUES GOVERNMENT SPENDING GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION GROSS VALUE GROWTH POTENTIAL GROWTH RATE HUMAN CAPITAL HUMAN RESOURCES INCOME INCOME DISTRIBUTION INCOME TAX INCOME TAXES INFLATION INNOVATION INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INTEREST RATES INTERNATIONAL MARKET INVESTING INVESTMENT ALLOCATION INVESTMENT CLIMATE INVESTMENT RATES LABOR FORCE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION LABOR MARKET LABOR MARKET INDICATORS LABOR MARKETS LABOR PRODUCTIVITY LABOUR LABOUR FORCE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY LEGAL SYSTEM LEGITIMACY LIBERALIZATION OF TRADE LIVING CONDITIONS LOCAL ECONOMY MANPOWER MARKET ECONOMY MARKET SHARE MATHEMATICS MINIMUM WAGE MOTIVATION NATIONAL SAVING NATURAL DISASTERS NOMINAL INCOME OCCUPATIONS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES PERVERSE INCENTIVES POLITICAL ECONOMY POLITICAL STABILITY POTENTIAL INVESTORS PRIVATE FINANCING PRIVATE INVESTMENT PRIVATE SECTOR PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH PUBLIC DEBT PUBLIC FINANCES PUBLIC INVESTMENT PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC SPENDING RATE OF RETURN RATES OF RETURN REAL GDP REAL INTEREST REAL INTEREST RATES REAL WAGES REMITTANCES RENT-SEEKING BEHAVIOR REPUBLIC RETIREMENT RETURNS RISK AVERSE RULE OF LAW SAFETY SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SKILLED LABOR STATE INTERVENTION TAX TAX EXEMPTIONS TAX INCENTIVES TAX POLICIES TAX POLICY TAX RATE TAX RATES TAX REGIME TAX REVENUE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY TRADE UNIONS UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES UNSKILLED WORKERS VALUE ADDED WAGE DISTRIBUTION WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WTO The objective of this report is to identify the main obstacles to longer term growth in Jamaica. The report takes a holistic approach, examining a large set of economic and social factors that may be hindering growth and filtering them through a growth diagnostic analysis to narrow the focus to those that constrain growth the most. Building on the results of the growth diagnostic analysis, the report then discusses each key obstacle and identifies possible reform scenarios to unlock growth in Jamaica. The report also examines how the country might further accelerate growth through private sector development. This Country Economic Memorandum assesses the key causes that have stalled Jamaica's economy over the past four decades and presents recommendations to unlock its growth potential. There is a basis for optimism in that Jamaica has had political stability, high rates of private investment, significant reduction of poverty in rural and urban areas, and improved income distribution. Nonetheless, this report shows that, since independence in 1962, long-term economic growth has been disappointing and underperformed most other countries. The findings of this study indicate that Jamaica's disappointing economic performance is traceable to low productivity caused by (i) deficiencies in human capital and entrepreneurship that are due to high migration rates and to deficiencies in the quality of education and training offered to the labor force, among other factors, (ii) a high rate of crime, and (iii) distortionary tax incentives combined with 'enclave' development that does not spill over to the rest of the economy. 2012-03-19T10:12:46Z 2012-03-19T10:12:46Z 2011-05-26 http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000386194_20110608003811 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2756 English CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank Economic & Sector Work :: Country Economic Memorandum Latin America & Caribbean Caribbean America Jamaica