IMF Working Papers

Reinvigorating Growth in Belize

By Dmitry Vasilyev

February 4, 2019

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Dmitry Vasilyev. Reinvigorating Growth in Belize, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2019) accessed December 22, 2024

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Belize grew faster than its regional peers. By the mid-2000s, however, economic growth had slowed down to the regional average. A vicious circle of low growth and increasing public debt has been clouding Belize’s outlook. This paper applies a growth diagnostic approach based on the Hausmann-Rodrik-Velasco framework to investigate the main growth constraints and opportunities for higher growth in Belize. Improvements in access to finance and in the business climate could unlock Belize’s strengths.

Subject: Economic sectors, Education, Income, National accounts, Production, Public debt, Total factor productivity, Tourism

Keywords: Belize, Belize's growth, Caribbean, Central America, Cost, Development policies, Diversification indicator, Economy, Export diversification index, Goods export, Growth diagnostics, Growth performance, Income, Peer economy, Structural transformation, Total factor productivity, Tourism, Tourism industry, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    26

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2019/024

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2019024

  • ISBN:

    9781484392188

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941