State And Society In The Dominican Republic

State And Society In The Dominican Republic
Author: Emelio Betances
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 183
Release: 2018-03-05
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0429965737

This book offers an analysis of the formation of the Dominican state and explores the development of state-society relations since the late nineteenth century. Emelio Betances argues that the groundwork for the establishment of a modern state was laid during the regimes of Ulises Heureaux and Ramï¿1⁄2ï¿1⁄2res. The U.S. military government that followed later expanded and strengthened political and administrative centralization. Between 1886 and 1924, these administrations opened the sugar industry to foreign capital investment, integrated Dominican finance into the international credit system, and expanded the role of the military. State expansion, however, was not accompanied by a strengthening of the social and economic base of national elites. Betances suggests that the imbalance between a strong state and a weak civil society provided the structural framework for the emergence in 1930 of the long-lived Trujillo dictatorship.Examining the links between Trujillo and current caudillo Joaquï¿1⁄2Balaguer, the author traces continuities and discontinuities in economic and political development through a study of import substitution programs, the reemergence of new economic groups, and the use of the military to counter threats to the status quo. Finally, he explores the impact of foreign intervention and socioeconomic change on the process of state and class formation since 1961.

When Growth Is Not Enough

When Growth Is Not Enough
Author: Francisco Galrao Carneiro
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 185
Release: 2017-05-31
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464810370

The Dominican Republic stands out as a fast growing economy that has not been able to generate a commensurate reduction in poverty. Three reasons have been raised before to explain this conundrum: (i) a labor market that does not translate productivity gains into salary increases; (ii) a domestic economy with weak inter-sectoral linkages; (iii) and a public sector that does not spend enough nor particularly well to reduce poverty. In addition, the country remains largely exposed to natural disasters and exogenous shocks that, if not mitigated properly, may affect the sustainability of growth in the medium and longer terms. This book assembles a collection of empirical analyses that explore three complementary hypotheses that could help understand why the Dominican Republic continues, to this date, experiencing high economic growth rates with limited poverty reduction. The first hypothesis is concerned with testing whether the observed pattern of fast economic growth cum persistent poverty in the DR is partly driven by a poverty methodology that does not account for price variation that affects distinctly the consumption patterns of low-income and better-off households. If that hypothesis holds, the DR may face a situation in which household income for households at the bottom of the distribution is underestimated. The second hypothesis tests whether the pattern of specialization in the DR might be such that it does not favor unskilled labor. If that hypothesis holds, then returns to capital are probably much higher than returns to labor which would be an indication that the DR has had a comparative advantage in products that are capital intensive instead of labor-intensive. The third hypothesis investigates whether poverty and wage inequality in the DR are affected not only by immigration but also by emigration. The contribution of the volume, therefore, lies in precisely offering a more careful exploration of specific issues around common explanations for the shortcomings of the DR in reducing poverty on a faster basis.

Growth and Employment in the Dominican Republic

Growth and Employment in the Dominican Republic
Author: Mr.Umidjon Abdullaev
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 25
Release: 2013-02-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1475514573

The Dominican Republic has posted high rates of output and productivity growth, but labor market indicators have remained weak during the past 20 years. This paper documents these trends, showing that the rapid productivity growth originates in a few sectors, while the bulk of job creation is concentrated elsewhere. The speed of job creation has not been enough to raise employment rates, and lackluster real earnings along with still-rampant labor market informality suggest that most of the new jobs are of low quality. Low real wages and low labor force participation suggest the need of raising market wages above fallback incomes to attract individuals to the labor force. For that, measures to improve education and reduce product market distortions would be helpful.

When Growth Is Not Enough

When Growth Is Not Enough
Author: Francisco Galrao Carneiro
Publisher: Directions in Development
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2017
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781464810367

This book assembles a collection of empirical analyses that explore three complementary hypotheses that could help understand why the Dominican Republic continues, to this date, experiencing high economic growth rates with limited poverty reduction.

Jobless Growth in the Dominican Republic

Jobless Growth in the Dominican Republic
Author: Christian Krohn-Hansen
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2022-05-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1503631575

The Dominican Republic has posted impressive economic growth rates over the past thirty years. Despite this, the generation of new, good jobs has been remarkably weak. How have ordinary and poor Dominicans worked and lived in the shadow of the country's conspicuous growth rates? This book considers this question through an ethnographic exploration of the popular economy in the Dominican capital. Focusing on the city's precarious small businesses, including furniture manufacturers, food stalls, street-corner stores, and savings and credit cooperatives, Krohn-Hansen shows how people make a living, tackle market shifts, and the factors that characterize their relationship to the state and pervasive corruption. Empirically grounded, this book examines the condition of the urban masses in Santo Domingo, offering an original and captivating contribution to the scholarship on popular economic practices, urban changes, and today's Latin America and the Caribbean. This will be essential reading for scholars and policy makers.

Inclusive Growth

Inclusive Growth
Author: Jordi Prat
Publisher: Inter-American Development Bank
Total Pages: 86
Release: 2018-02-22
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Central America and the Dominican Republic had stable economic growth in 2017. The performance of the United States economy and low commodity prices, mainly oil, meant that the key indicators for the region did not change abruptly. It is worth noting that safeguarding the stability of public finances remains the main challenge for the region. In the short run, we expect the fiscal deficit and public debt to maintain their upward trend, thus putting pressure on interest rates, which would have a negative impact on economic growth. This trend has implied in downward revisions to the region’s economic outlook. Growth in the region has been higher than the rest of Latin America, but its impact on reducing poverty and improve income distribution, has been limited. The report explores options to make growth more inclusive in Central America and the Dominican Republic. It highlights the need to bolster human capital accumulation, take advantage of integration with other trade partners, and generate buffers for political decision-making in a highly uncertain environment, in order ensure that growth can benefit the highest number of people in the region.

Paving the Way to Sustained Growth and Prosperity in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic

Paving the Way to Sustained Growth and Prosperity in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic
Author: Ms.Kimberly Beaton
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 308
Release: 2019-09-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484370287

Abstract: Accelerating economic growth in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (CAPDR) remains an elusive task. While the region performed relatively well in the post-global financial crisis period, over the last five years obstacles to growth have become more evident and new challenges have emerged. In response, the region has strengthened macro-financial frameworks but more progress will be required to pave the way to sustained growth and prosperity. This book considers the structural factors underlying the region’s growth outlook and assesses its macroeconomic and financial challenges to help shape the policy agenda going forward. The book first identifies the structural determinants of growth in the region related to: capital formation; employment; demographic factors, including immigration; productivity; and violence. It then highlights the importance of creating fiscal space through the design and implementation of fiscal rules and mechanisms to increase accountability (better quality of public spending, adequate policies to reduce income inequality and sustainable retirement plans). Finally, it presents recent evidence on the importance of a supportive financial sector for growth (including through financial inclusion and development).

Macrofinancial Linkages and Growth at Risk in the Dominican Republic

Macrofinancial Linkages and Growth at Risk in the Dominican Republic
Author: Olga Bespalova
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 19
Release: 2019-11-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513519204

This paper uses the Growth-at-Risk (GaR) methodology to examine how macrofinancial conditions affect the growth outlook and its probability distribution. Using this approach, we evaluate risks to GDP growth in the Dominican Republic using quarterly data for 1996-2018. We group macrofinancial conditions in five principal determinants, based on 32 indicators. The Dominican Republic’s growth distribution appears most vulnerable to negative shocks to domestic financial conditions, domestic leverage, domestic demand, and external demand, with additional repercussions from the external cost of borrowing in the longer run. Our findings show that domestic monetary policy plays a particularly important role in reducing growth vulnerabilities when the economy is weak.