PIOJ Growth-Inducement Strategy - Planning Institute of Jamaica
PIOJ Growth-Inducement Strategy - Planning Institute of Jamaica
PIOJ Growth-Inducement Strategy - Planning Institute of Jamaica
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1990<br />
1991<br />
1992<br />
1993<br />
1994<br />
1995<br />
1996<br />
1997<br />
1998<br />
1999<br />
2000<br />
2001<br />
2002<br />
2003<br />
2004<br />
2005<br />
2006<br />
2007<br />
2008<br />
2009<br />
2010<br />
FIGURE 8: POVERTY RATES<br />
50.0%<br />
45.0%<br />
40.0%<br />
35.0%<br />
30.0%<br />
25.0%<br />
20.0%<br />
15.0%<br />
10.0%<br />
5.0%<br />
0.0%<br />
4.10.1 The poverty rate projection for 2010 is in the range <strong>of</strong> 18.5% - 20.3%. This<br />
represents a projected increase in the range <strong>of</strong> 2.0% - 3.8%, which is predicated on the<br />
following:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
decline in the level <strong>of</strong> employment: 1,087,900 persons were employed in April<br />
2010, 35,000 persons fewer than in April 2009. The decline in the employed<br />
persons and increase in size <strong>of</strong> the population contributed to an increase in the<br />
economic dependency ratio (i.e. the total number <strong>of</strong> persons who are not working<br />
relative to the employed labour force) from 1.4 persons per employed person in<br />
April 2009 to approximately 1.5 persons per employed person in April 2010.<br />
decline in real GDP: Real economic activities are projected to have declined by<br />
0.9% during the first half <strong>of</strong> the year relative to the corresponding period in 2009.<br />
Overall for 2010, real GDP is projected to remain flat.<br />
Higher Taxes: Tax policy, announced in December 2009 and implemented in<br />
January 2010, will contribute to a decline in purchasing power.<br />
Lower Interest income : The JDX, which led to a decline in interest rate and<br />
longer maturity <strong>of</strong> government bond instruments, will lead to lower than<br />
anticipated interest income, thereby reducing purchasing power.<br />
Uncertainty: Uncertainty about the size <strong>of</strong> future job cuts in both the private and<br />
public sectors has led to persons being risk adverse, leading to excess savings (i.e.<br />
savings beyond planned investment due to falling consumption and delayed<br />
purchasing) which contributed to reduced economic activities.<br />
93