Explaining High Unemployment in ECCU Countries

Explaining High Unemployment in ECCU Countries PDF Author: Ronald James
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498326218
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
In recent years, unemployment rates in some ECCU countries have been among the highest globally. This paper evaluates several factors that could explain them, finding that high unit labor costs, in a context of strong unionization, are significantly associated with high structural unemployment, while the global crisis added a cyclical component. Our analysis also suggests that high-paid jobs in the public and tourism sectors, which have been growing considerably in recent decades, could have increased the reservation wage and lowered labor force participation. We find no indication that high structural unemployment is related to the phase out of EU preferences on bananas/sugar exports or to a skills mismatch. As expected, unemployment has been substantially, but only temporarily fueled by large natural disasters.

Explaining High Unemployment in ECCU Countries

Explaining High Unemployment in ECCU Countries PDF Author: Ronald James
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498326218
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 32

Get Book

Book Description
In recent years, unemployment rates in some ECCU countries have been among the highest globally. This paper evaluates several factors that could explain them, finding that high unit labor costs, in a context of strong unionization, are significantly associated with high structural unemployment, while the global crisis added a cyclical component. Our analysis also suggests that high-paid jobs in the public and tourism sectors, which have been growing considerably in recent decades, could have increased the reservation wage and lowered labor force participation. We find no indication that high structural unemployment is related to the phase out of EU preferences on bananas/sugar exports or to a skills mismatch. As expected, unemployment has been substantially, but only temporarily fueled by large natural disasters.

Explaining High Unemployment in ECCU Countries

Explaining High Unemployment in ECCU Countries PDF Author: Ronald James
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498318703
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 32

Get Book

Book Description
In recent years, unemployment rates in some ECCU countries have been among the highest globally. This paper evaluates several factors that could explain them, finding that high unit labor costs, in a context of strong unionization, are significantly associated with high structural unemployment, while the global crisis added a cyclical component. Our analysis also suggests that high-paid jobs in the public and tourism sectors, which have been growing considerably in recent decades, could have increased the reservation wage and lowered labor force participation. We find no indication that high structural unemployment is related to the phase out of EU preferences on bananas/sugar exports or to a skills mismatch. As expected, unemployment has been substantially, but only temporarily fueled by large natural disasters.

St. Lucia

St. Lucia PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 147559092X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 75

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Book Description
Despite some limited improvement in labor market conditions, unemployment remains high and growth modest as low competitiveness and structural bottlenecks continue to weigh on economic performance. Slow progress in addressing financial sector problems has left banks loaded with impaired assets and unable to support the economy. The new government is developing a program of pro-growth reforms, but policies have not yet been defined.

Eastern Caribbean Currency Union

Eastern Caribbean Currency Union PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 147554636X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 119

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Book Description
The regional recovery is gaining ground, supported by continued low oil prices, the return to pre-2007 levels of tourism arrivals, and buoyant citizenship-by-investment receipts. Three failed banks have been resolved with no spillovers to the rest of the region and authorities have demonstrated improved fiscal management. Risks in the short run appear to be balanced but the region still faces many vulnerabilities that jeopardize the medium-term outlook. This year’s discussions took stock of the progress made and the policies needed to address key vulnerabilities related to the weak banking system, high debt, susceptibility to natural disasters, and competitiveness.

OECD Development Pathways Development Strategy Assessment of the Eastern Caribbean

OECD Development Pathways Development Strategy Assessment of the Eastern Caribbean PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 9264684743
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
Eastern Caribbean countries enjoy rich natural endowments and have achieved significant economic development. Throughout the last decades, they have also been confronted with a number of rising economic, social and environmental challenges.

 PDF Author:
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 34

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Book Description


Corporate versus National Interest in US Trade Policy

Corporate versus National Interest in US Trade Policy PDF Author: Richard L. Bernal
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030569500
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 283

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Book Description
This book provides a history of the WTO US-EU banana dispute through the lens of a major actor: the US-owned multinational firm, Chiquita Brands International. It documents and explains how Chiquita succeeded in having the Clinton administration pursue a trade policy of forcing the European Union to dismantle its preferential banana import regime for exports from the small English-speaking Caribbean (ESC) countries. The export of bananas was critically important to the social stability and economic viability of these countries and that was in the national security interest of the United States. The experience indicates that succeeding in this goal was detrimental to U.S. national security interest in the Caribbean.

Unemployment in Greece

Unemployment in Greece PDF Author: Dimitri G. Demekas
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Greece
Languages : en
Pages : 92

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Book Description


New Insights into ECCU's Tourism Sector Competitiveness

New Insights into ECCU's Tourism Sector Competitiveness PDF Author: Mr.Manuk Ghazanchyan
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498320813
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 18

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Book Description
Tourism has become the main driver of economic growth and employment and the most important source of income in the ECCU. Preserving and, possibly, enhancing the competitiveness of the tourism product is key for these countries. Unfortunately, the evidence shows that tourism arrivals to the ECCU have been declining slightly while global demand for tourism is on the rise. The objective of this paper is to study the structural determinants of competitiveness for the ECCU, defined as the relative cost advantage over other touristic regions (Di Bella, Lewis, and Martin 2007). Using a gravity model, we show that proximity to North American and European markets is indeed an important competitive advantage for the ECCU. However, despite this advantage, and, in some cases, specialization in high-end tourism, regression analysis shows that arrivals to the ECCU are sensitive to relative prices. Our simulations show that mitigating supply-side constraints would improve the ECCU’s competitiveness and allow the region to regain global market shares.

Mauritius

Mauritius PDF Author: Mr.James Y. Yao
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1451874863
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 19

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Book Description
Despite strong economic growth, a "U"-curve unemployment phenomenon in Mauritius can be observed. Unemployment plunged from 21 percent to less than 4 percent between the early 1980s and the early 1990s, but this trend was reversed and the rate increased to 10 percent by end-2002. This paper provides an analytical framework to explain this development. The growth of higher-skilled sectors coupled with rigidities in the labor market seem to account for the observed unemployment behavior. Policy makers can improve employment prospects by not only investing in education to reduce skills mismatch but also by reforming the pay-setting institutions.