You may also like
Home | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Copyright © 2014 Caribbean Policy Research Institute. All Rights Reserved.
Site Design and Development: 876 Solutions
Home | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Copyright © 2014 Caribbean Policy Research Institute. All Rights Reserved.
Site Design and Development: 876 Solutions
Driving Productivity in Jamaica’s Low Unemployment Economy
In April 2023, Jamaica hit a record low unemployment rate of 4.5 percent, underlining a shift from a decades long economic problem of surplus labour capacity. The current rate of less than 5 percent, defined by most economists as “full employment”, is unprecedented in Jamaica’s post-independence history, during which unemployment averaged 17 percent. The labour market situation has created a shortage of workers across several industries and skill levels, and has led the Bank of Jamaica to grow concerned about increased inflation as companies raise wages to compete for workers.
Out of Many, One Protection: Intellectual Property Rights to Maximise Jamaica’s Gastronomic and Craft Heritage and Innovations
In 1891, Jamaica hosted its first globally publicized ‘International Exhibition’ to promote local products and attract investments to the island, inspired by the successes of exhibitions such as the London Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace (1851) and the Paris Great Exhibitions (1700-1800s).
Moving on from the “Culture of Violence” Myth
CAPRI’s 2020 landmark study on Jamaica’s violent gangs, Guns Out: The Splintering of Jamaica’s Gangs , repeated the commonly held premise that Jamaica suffers from a “culture of violence.” Ongoing work in the security field has since prompted a reexamination of that hypothesis. A closer examination of the available evidence yields no indication that a distinct cultural propensity is responsible for Jamaica’s high rates of violence, particularly with respect to homicides.
Pro-Legalization of Abortion is Not the Same as Pro-Abortion
“I am Catholic but I have to legislate for everyone,” proclaimed then-candidate Alberto Fernandez, in his campaign promise to reintroduce a bill to legalize abortion in Argentina. After winning the presidency, he fulfilled his commitment, and Argentina legalized abortion up to 14 weeks gestation in 2020. President Fernandez’s distinguishing between his personal beliefs and what he recognized as the human costs associated with the abortion ban, highlights that supporting the legalization of abortion does not equate to being pro-abortion.