Economic survey of the Caribbean 2024

This survey examines the economic performance of economies of the Caribbean in 2023 and the first few months of 2024 and comprises five chapters. The first chapter gives an overview of global, regional and subregional economic performance in the Caribbean. The second provides an analysis of the subregion’s fiscal performance and debt burden. The third looks at monetary policy and their impacts. The fourth is focused on the external sector, while the fifth concludes.…

Preliminary overview of the economies of the Caribbean 2023–2024

chapters. The introduction examines the world economy and its prospects as well as growth and unemployment trends of Caribbean economies. The first chapter provides a comparative analysis across Caribbean economies of the main macroeconomic variables, namely GDP growth, monetary indicators, as well as fiscal and external accounts. The second chapter concludes, while the annex includes individual country briefs that give an overview of the economic situation for the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and a subregional assessment of the countries of the Ea…

United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments: trade patterns and opportunities in the Caribbean

This special issue of United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments provides an overview of trade relations between the United States and the Caribbean for the period 2021–2024. It presents an analysis of trends in goods and services trade; key sectors and partner economies; and an assessment of the degree of trade concentration. The findings show that although overall trade volumes recovered and expanded after the pandemic, the Caribbean’s share of total United States trade remained below 1%, highlighting the region’s limited but gradually increasing engagement with that co…

United States-Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Developments 2025

In 2024, Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 19.2% of total United States trade, similar to the level recorded in 2023. The region’s share of total United States trade in goods, 23.2%, surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The region, driven by Mexico, remained a net exporter of goods to the United States: imports by that country from Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 7.4% to US$ 661 billion, while exports increased by 2.9% to US$ 517 billion, widening the United States goods trade deficit with the region to US$ 144 billion. Latin America and the Caribbean also accounted for 11.5% of …

Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2025. Executive summary

Latin America and the Caribbean remains caught in a trap of low capacity for growth. ECLAC forecasts regional growth of 2.3% in 2026, slightly below the 2.4% recorded in 2025, marking four consecutive years of growth rates around 2.3%. This 2025 edition of the Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean shows that this performance comes amid global uncertainty and domestic constraints which limit investment growth, productivity and the capacity to generate formal employment. The economic outlook of the region is mixed. Although inflation continues to decline, facil…

Implementation Of The 2024 Programme Of Work Subprogramme 12: Subregional Activities In The Caribbean

Annotated Provisional agenda. Twenty-second meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee

Provisional agenda. Twenty-second meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee

Tax expenditures for environmental sustainability: international experiences in their identification and evaluation to enhance their governance

This report analyses tax expenditures aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable production activities and processes. Drawing on a global-scope database and a set of specific international experiences, it explores how these instruments are currently being used and evaluated. To this end, it presents a methodology for identifying and classifying the environmental tax expenditures applied in different parts of the world. It also provides an in-depth analysis of four country cases (Germany, Indonesia, Ireland and South Africa), with an emphasis on how they are evaluated. The document also add…

Report on the activities of the Commission, 2024

ECLAC is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. Established in February 1948 and headquartered in Santiago, the Commission’s main mandate is to contribute to the sustainable development of Latin America and the Caribbean. In June  1951, the Commission established the ECLAC subregional headquarters in Mexico City, which serves the needs of the Central American countries, as well as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Mexico, and in December 1966, the ECLAC subregional headquarters for the Caribbean was founded in Port of Spain, to serve the Caribbean subregion. In addit…

United States economic outlook: evolving trends in the ownership of United States federal debt

This special issue of the United States economic outlook examines the trends in the ownership composition of United States federal debt holders, focusing on the balance between domestic and foreign investors and its implications for fiscal policy, financial stability and Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides updated data through mid-2025 on the structure of Treasury holdings, highlighting both the region’s participation as holders of United States debt and the strategies adopted by Latin American and Caribbean countries. The publication builds on two earlier reports by the ECLAC office …

United States economic outlook: 2024 year-in-review and first half of 2025

In 2024, the United States economy expanded 2.8%, led by consumer spending. Job creation slowed and the unemployment rate edged up to 4.1% in December. Inflation eased to 2.4% in September but closed the year at 2.9%, with the core consumer price index (CPI) at 3.2%. The Federal Reserve cut rates in September, November and December, lowering the federal funds target range to 4.25%–4.50%, while trade and fiscal deficits widened. In the first half of 2025, GDP growth averaged 1.4%, with a contraction of 0.3% in the first quarter and an uptick of 3.3% in the second. From January to July, the eco…

Report of the activities carried out by the Latin American and Caribbean Institute for Economic and Social Planning (ILPES), 2024-2025

Enhancing data for development: policy imperatives for tracking the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean. Policy Brief

For small island developing States (SIDS), sustainable development is a delicate balance of pursuing economic growth, social development and environmental stewardship in the context of economic volatility, social challenges, climate change threats and global uncertainties while striving to build resilience. Recognized as a special case for development since the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, SIDS remain highly vulnerable to external shocks due to their small economies, limited connectivity and reliance on external markets. Over the years, global frameworks such …

Actes du séminaire international Insécurité en Haïti et construction de nouveaux paradigmes

El Colegio de México et la Commission économique pour l’Amérique latine et les Caraïbes (CEPALC) ont organisé le Séminaire international Insécurité en Haïti et construction de nouveaux paradigmes à Mexico les 22 et 23 octobre 2024, dans le but d’approfondir les défis critiques auxquels est confrontée la nation caribéenne. Ce document résume les contributions des vingt-six spécialistes qui ont participé au séminaire, couvrant des sujets tels que l’analyse des racines historiques, socioéconomiques, géopolitiques et culturelles qui favorisent l’insécurité en Haïti. Le séminaire a suscité des réf…

Strengthening the artificial intelligence readiness of the Caribbean. Policy Brief

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems, when applied well, could help in addressing key global challenges and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, these potential benefits will not materialize automatically. The use of AI also carries significant risks, such as disruption to job markets and economies, loss of cultural diversity, new AI-enabled digital weapons that increase misinformation and surveillance, and threats to human rights and democracy. While AI systems could support the achievement of many of the SDGs , they could also impede the achievement of others and increa…

Recent experiences in implementing integrated national financing frameworks for Latin American and Caribbean countries

This document analyses the contributions made in the region by integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs). It highlights their potential to make it easier to finance the SDGs and other national priorities, expediting resource mobilization and the alignment of public policies. Examples in the region include Colombia, where budget tagging was implemented and tools were created to engage the private sector; Costa Rica, where support was provided to develop a framework for issuing sovereign sustainable bonds; and the Dominican Republic, where efforts have been made to identify financial gaps…

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2025: resource mobilization to finance development. Executive summary

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean must urgently step up resource mobilization for development to avoid a third lost decade, amid a challenging and grim global landscape. This edition of the Economic Survey for Latin America and the Caribbean summarizes the key messages presented by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) —along with the countries of the region— at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Seville, Spain, in 2025. This Economic Survey analyses three key dimensions of resource mobilization: fiscal and str…

Global overview of experiences in fintech development and administration: interim report on the fintech regulatory environment in Aruba

This interim report assesses Aruba's potential to leverage fintech, distributed ledger technology and artificial intelligence, by examining the current state of digital regulation on the island. It provides an in-depth overview of the fintech regulatory environment in Aruba, assessing key legislative and institutional frameworks that support digital financial services. In particular, it reviews the regulatory frameworks related to telecommunications, banking, finance and competition management, highlighting the impact of these regulations on business sentiment and investment appetite. The…

Recommendations for fintech sector development and leveraging of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in Aruba

This report presents strategic recommendations for the development of Aruba's fintech sector with a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence and distributed ledger technologies. It evaluates Aruba's readiness in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector and the financial sector, comparing key indicators against counterparts in the region, including Curaçao, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The report highlights strenaths, such as stable democratic traditions, high education levels and a robust banking sector, and weaknesses, such as…