Impact of economic adjustment on the poor in Jamaica: background paper
- Port of SpainTT I.L.O. PREALC 1991
- 68 p.
Identifies the policy changes demanded by the IMF in an attempt to stabilize the Jamaican economy viz, liberalization of exchange controls; limits on public borrowing and public spending; deregulation of markets; divestment of public enterprises to private entrepreneurs; wages and salaries policy; tight limits on domestic credit; climate of confidence. Evaluates the impact of each of the 'Sector Adjustments' and other bank loans, concluding that in effect, the SAL and SAL-type loans from the Bank, have aggravated the country's indebtedness, rather than increased its capacity to service the debt that it had acquired before the SALs. Presents the view that the burdern of adjustment has fallen on the working people with the slashing of real wages and increases in net taxes.