Topic
Writing on the Caribbean as a region: small-island economics, regional integration, labour, and the long arc of post-colonial development.
14 pieces on this topic
Bridgetown Brief
Within six days, the Central Bank of Barbados made two announcements that say more about the economy than either one does on its own. Fiscal discipline without credit access is austerity by another name; with it, it is a strategy that can hold.
Bridgetown Brief
Fitch says Barbados’ fiscal trajectory is improving. It also says the tourism base underneath is not. Cruise arrivals are up 9.6 per cent; stay-overs only 3.3. Volume has outpaced value. When Fitch flags tourism, it is flagging the ground everything else is standing on.
Bridgetown Brief
On 16 April 2026, ahead of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told reporters that “even our most hopeful scenario involves a growth downgrade.” The next day, the Fund’s World Economic Outlook confirmed the shape.
On January 3, 2026, the United States launched a large-scale operation in Venezuela. President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were kidnapped or captured (depends on your lens), with U.S. officials saying Maduro would face U.S. charges and that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela during a transition.
Three central banks, three slightly different stories: The US Federal Reserve has just cut rates again, taking the federal funds rate down to 3.5–3.75 per cent. Inflation is running at roughly 3 per cent, core PCE is in the high-2s, unemployment has drifted up to about 4.5 per cent.
Barbados faces a critical population challenge that threatens its economic stability, social fabric, and long-term sustainability. Over the past few decades, the island nation has seen a significant decline in its population, coupled with an ageing demographic that presents complex challenges.
Barbados faces significant demographic challenges, including a declining population, as highlighted by the 2021 Population and Housing Census. A multi-faceted approach is required to address these challenges, focusing on supporting pregnant women and mothers and incentivising childbirth through various policies that have proven effective in other countries.
The turn of the 21st century marked significant economic challenges and opportunities for Barbados, necessitating strategic decisions that have significantly shaped its economic landscape. Among these, the Barbados National Bank (BNB) sale to Republic Bank Limited (RBTT) in 2003 and substantial investments in tourism infrastructure.
In the era of the information revolution, data has emerged as a crucial asset for decision-making. The relevance of data collection, analysis, and utilisation is particularly pronounced in developing countries and small island developing states, where it can be a game-changer in addressing unique developmental challenges.
The Caribbean’s economic resurgence after the pandemic has undeniably garnered commendation. However, with the global economic landscape growing increasingly intricate, the region, inclusive of Barbados, now confronts fresh trials. The United States, United Kingdom, and European markets, serving as principal reservoirs of tourism, investment, and trade.
The spectre of colonialism continues to loom over many nations, casting a shadow that stretches from the plains of Africa to the islands of the Caribbean and the diverse landscapes of Latin America. It’s a past woven with the threads of subjugation and exploitation.
To achieve consistent and sustainable economic growth, Barbados and other Caribbean countries could adopt a multifaceted approach that carefully balances capital and infrastructure projects with the country’s financial constraints and the need to manage debt prudently. Short-term Tourism Enhancement Immediately boost the tourism sector by upgrading tourism infrastructure.
A Collective Endeavour: In the Caribbean, where each island is woven into a vibrant mosaic of cultures and histories, there lies a unified commitment to the workforce. This article reflects upon this crucial subject of protecting workers’ common interests across our region.
Join us in changing the way workers rights are being represented in Barbados. Vote on April 1st 2015.