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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

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