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September, 2016
Thematic Area: 

This report is part of a project undertaken in collaboration with the Embassy of the U.S. in Jamaica, titled "Dialogues Between Democracies". This project, which consisted of a series of events and the present research, examined the benefits and challenges of the bilateral relations between the United States and Jamaica. Focusing on the themes of Security, Health & Prosperity, Democratic Governance and Social Inclusion, "Dialogues Between Democracies" celebrated the achivements of a strong partnership, whilst providing evidence-based recommendations to strengthen this partnership, presented in this report. 

July, 2016
Thematic Area: 

The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) is tasked with safeguarding public health through environmentally sound solid waste management practices but has largely failed to achieve this objective. Many have proposed privatisation as a method of overcoming the obstacles which have hindered the NSWMA. What are these obstacles? Should the NSWMA be privatised? If it should, what models of privatisation should be pursued? And what lessons could be learnt from other countries’ experiences with privatising solid waste management services? This report aims to answer these questions.

 

June, 2016
Thematic Area: 

There is an increasingly global consensus regarding the comparative merits of, and shift towards the adoption of electronic Government-to-Person (G2P) payments to replace cash. The emergence of the mobile phone as a low-cost, pervasive payments channel has fuelled this momentum. This study examines and presents considerations for the adoption of mobile G2P payments for the delivery of PATH benefits in Jamaica. Through the analysis of several country case studies and an examination of Jamaica’s current economic landscape and policy imperatives, the study makes the case for the use of a PPP-model of engagement for implementing a mobile PATH payments system that could become the cornerstone of a robust national mobile payments ecosystem.

May, 2016
Thematic Area: 
Most Jamaicans dream of owning a ‘big house on the hill’. While many would settle for a basic two-bedroom, concrete structure with just the basic amenities, houses are nonetheless expensive assets that require a substantial portion of buyers’ lifetime incomes. The National Housing Trust (NHT) was established in the belief that homeownership could be facilitated by a public mortgage body that built homes and subsidised the loans to purchase them. However, the current accumulated capital of J$126 billion, along with an additional J$76 billion in employee contributions held in the Trust, raises the following questions: (i) How much money does the NHT need to carry out its mandate in the way it has been doing? (ii) Is the NHT meeting its mandate? (iii) Is it using the right approach to deliver on its mandate?
February, 2016
Thematic Area: 
The Caribbean, more than any other region in the world, now faces a threat that has severe implications for its economic viability. This threat is the termination of Correspondent Banking Relationships (CBRs). Amidst concerns about money laundering and the financing of terrorism (ML/FT), several correspondent banks have been terminating or restricting business relationships with clients or categories of clients to avoid, rather than manage, the inherent risk. This action, referred to as ‘de-risking’ or ‘de-banking’, is a challenge that requires urgent and coordinated action from Caribbean economic, regulatory, and political leadership. This report therefore examines the underlying drivers of de-risking in the Caribbean, examines the impact of de-risking on the region, and proposes measures that can be taken to help to address the problem.
October, 2014
Thematic Area: 

Open Data has emerged as a progressive approach to issues of fiscal transparency, public sector efficiency and new job creation. Open Government Data (OGD) refers to government data and information that has been created or commissioned by a public entity which is made accessible for public use and reuse. While preliminary work has been undertaken in the Caribbean to explore the potential for open-data enabled interventions none of these studies have attempted to quantify the economic value associated with these open data opportunities. Specifically, this paper presents an estimation of the potential economic contribution of Open Data to the education, tourism and agricultural sectors, culminating with generic guidelines for developing Jamaica’s Open Data policy.

May, 2013
Thematic Area: 

The Government of Jamaica reintroduced the no-user fee policy for public health-care facilities in 2008. This study examines how the abolition of user fees has impacted health services in Jamaica. The loss of revenue from user fees has resulted in a reduction in the ability to purchase pharmaceutical and medical supplies, and hire adequate medical personal, and led to increased waiting/processing times.

January, 2013
Thematic Area: 

Public expenditure on education in Jamaica continues to surpass the average for developing countries, yet low test scores attest to a haemorrhaging education system. This paper assesses the current status and future prospects of nine critical dimensions of education in Jamaica.

December, 2011
Thematic Area: 

This paper evaluates the value of social partnerships as a governance tool for the Commonwealth Caribbean by examining the experiences of Botswana, Ireland and Barbados, as well as the less-than-successful attempts to implement a social partnership in Jamaica.

June, 2011
Thematic Area: 

The continued use of government revenues to sustain public sector deficits has been highlighted as a major structural weakness by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has called for Public Sector Reform (PSR). This paper looks at success factors for PSR in Jamaica.

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