Total public debt at the end of fiscal year 2018-19 was an estimated $1.961 trillion, an increase of $8.9 billion when compared to $1.9521 trillion at the end of the fiscal year 2017-2018. Of the total,...
Last year, the Government announced no new taxes. This year, the administration set out a series of reforms that will give back $14 billion to the country through various avenues, including: 1. Increase in General Consumption Tax (GCT) threshold...
Jamaica experienced no inflation in November. The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) has reported that the inflation rate for November was recorded at zero per cent compared to 0.7 per cent in October and 1.1 per cent...
When I was a boy, we played Under-17 and Under-20 football competitions sponsored and organised by the Social Development Commission (SDC). Others played basketball, while the females participated in netball.Mt Salem won theSt James...
Jamaica's rank has fallen consecutively over the past years, from 65th in 2016 to 67th in 2017, to 70th in 2018, and now to 75th in the 2019 Doing Business Report. The rank has fallen despite Jamaica's index value increasing by 20 basis points, from...
Micro, small and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) contribute to economic growth similar to multinational corporations even though they are small in size.The key here is quality as opposed to quantity. Standard multinational corporations seek...
In 1963, just after Jamaica received Independence, there was a need to intertwine the Jamaican culture with meaningful enterprise. The Government established a company called "Things Jamaican" to produce and supply to a global market place things...
The 2017-2018 Global Competitiveness Report gives Jamaica an overall ranking of 79th out of the approximately 140 countries, falling from 78th last year.On a scale where one is the best and 140 is the worst -performing economy, the competitiveness...
In order to gain the financial freedom that you truly desire, you have to let your money work for you. Small amounts of money, if invested wisely, can add up to large sums of money over the foreseeable future.The first thing to remember is that...
The zones of special operation (ZOSO) and the state of emergency in Montego Bay have had a positive impact on violent crime, not just in Montego Bay and other areas, but across the island. This year, murders in Jamaica are on the decline, and we...
The Jamaican stock market has been on a four-year increasing trend where some stocks have doubled, some tripled and others increasing fourfold in value to provide excellent rates of return for investors. According to Bloomberg, over the last 5 years...
Fifty-three per cent of cannabis enthusiasts want Jamaica to fully legalise cannabis while 27 per cent want Jamaica to legalise but with strict controls. Only 18 per cent are content with the current state of decriminalisation and two per cent want...
The traditional role of the central bank appears to be evolving in modern macroeconomics. Monetary policy from the central bank was once responsible for acting as a counterbalance to fiscal policy to aid the government to achieve its objectives. The...
The Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) continues with the Inflation Targeting strategy, let us explore why, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.Elements of inflation targetingAccording to Mishkin (2001) in order for the strategy of inflation...
The Jamaican dollar has depreciated to more than $130 to US$1 again. The price of the US dollar rose to an all-time high, selling for an average price $132 to US$1 and has remained above $...
Economic growth in the Caribbean and Latin America is expected to increase to about 2.7 per cent on average by 2020, aided by an improvement in global economic conditions and commodity export prices. Possible...
Last week, the prime minister gave his contribution to the Budget Debate for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Mr Holness declared that he had brought his family to Parliament, whichshould indicate his long-term commitment to the nation. His speech was in...
The budget Debate continues and Dr Peter Phillips, leader of the Opposition People's National Party, delivered his budget rebuttal, titled Empowering the People restoring Hope.Where was Phillips' main focus?Dr Phillips main focus was on Jamaica's...
For the first time ever, to the best of my knowledge, the Government has tabled a Budget without implementing new tax revenue measures. Traditionally, we take it as a norm for the government to add a new tax category or increase tax on...
Jamaica's pursuits to increase its per annum economic growth rate is somewhat dependent on the country's ability to maintain macroeconomic stability and measures in place to effectively monitor and manage its...
An estimated $773 billion is expected to be spent by the Government during the next fiscal year (FY) as the items of expenditure for the 2018-2019 Budget has been tabled by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. The projected expenditure...
As we prepare to hear this year's Budget Debate, it is important to remember how the process unfolded last fiscal year. This, in an attempt to get an understanding of the priority areas of spending as well as the country's main sources of revenues...
Over the last four months, the Jamaican-to-US dollar exchange rate has appreciated by approximately 4 per cent, and is now at approximately j$125 to US$1, indicating that a new exchange rate landscape might be on the horizon. The University of the...
The World Economic Forum has outlined that the top five risks that are most likely to occur in 2018 are extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, cyberattack, data fraud or theft, and failure of climate change mitigation and action. Meanwhile,...
Crime and violence has had minimal impact on tourism in the Second City, although the violent habits of some of the residents of Montego Bay are becoming overwhelming. The crime as well as a state of emergency can sometimes be very costly to...
