Major Challenge In Jamaica: Income Inequality

Is the Government’s objective to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio down to 60% by the fiscal year 2027/28, too ambitious given the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic? While Jamaica has gone through an impressive transformation, substantially reducing its debt between 2012 and 2019. COVID-19 caused a substantial increase in the debt-to-GDP ratio in 2020.

Recognizing the challenging environment in which the country now finds itself, how best can the Government of Jamaica balance debt reduction with competing priorities?

To discuss we have Dr Olaf De Groot, Economist at un resident coordinators office and economic commentator and Finance Expert Dennis Chung