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Caribbean Region: Review of Economic Growth and ... - USITC

Caribbean Region: Review of Economic Growth and ... - USITC

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Netherl<strong>and</strong>s Antilles: Selected social development indicatorsMRY(2000–07)Middleincomeaverage,2006Population (thous<strong>and</strong>s, 2006) 184 32,183Population below poverty line(%) na naPoverty headcount ratio at $1per day (PPP, % <strong>of</strong> population)nanaLife expectancy at birth, 2005 76 70Literacy rate, total (%, 2003) 97 90Data are unavailablefrom sourcePopulation with access toimproved sanitation facilities(%)Population with access toimproved water source (%)na 62na 83Sources: World Development Indicators; CIA World Factbook.See appendix D for sources <strong>and</strong> definitions.Note: MRY=most recent year for which data are available; na= “not available.”Source: World Development Indicators. See appendix D forsources <strong>and</strong> definitions.Note: MIA = Middle income average for 2005.Classified by the World Bank as a high-income economy, the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s Antilles is a small, open economy<strong>and</strong> a separate, autonomous member <strong>of</strong> the Kingdom <strong>of</strong> the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s. Although it has a population <strong>of</strong> lessthan 200,000, its services-oriented economy supports a relatively high GDP per capita <strong>of</strong> $16,000, twice that<strong>of</strong> the middle-income average. The Netherl<strong>and</strong>s Antilles consists <strong>of</strong> five isl<strong>and</strong>s: Curacao, Bonaire, St.2Maarten, Saba, <strong>and</strong> St. Eustatius; more than 70 percent <strong>of</strong> the population is on Curacao. Although two <strong>of</strong>the isl<strong>and</strong>s are south <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Caribbean</strong> hurricane belt (Curacao <strong>and</strong> Bonaire), three are subject to hurricanesfrom July to October, which has contributed to economic contraction.The Netherl<strong>and</strong>s Antilles economy depends on tourism, oil refining, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fshore financial services. Recenteconomic growth has been weak, <strong>and</strong> the IMF attributes this lackluster performance to inflexible labormarkets, widespread state ownership <strong>and</strong> interference in commercial activities, <strong>and</strong> insufficient investmentin infrastructure <strong>and</strong> human capital. As a result, per capita GDP has declined in recent years, though itremains higher than the middle-income economy average.High deficits resulting from costly provision <strong>of</strong> infrastructure <strong>and</strong> services <strong>and</strong> damage from natural disastersin recent years have driven rising debt ratios. In addition, increasing pension <strong>and</strong> health care costs, incomesupport, <strong>and</strong> interest payments have contributed to an increase in estimated public debt from 64 percentrelative to GDP in 2000 to more than 85 percent in 2005.Social development in the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s Antilles is considered relatively advanced. Compared to the middleincomeeconomy average, the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s Antilles has a higher literacy rate <strong>and</strong> life expectancy.Nevertheless, the IMF 2005 Article IV consultation report noted that poverty alleviation remains a concern2As <strong>of</strong> December 15, 2008, the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s Antilles is to cease to exist as a political entity. Curacao <strong>and</strong> St.Maarten are to become separate <strong>and</strong> independent countries, while Bonaire, St. Eustatius, <strong>and</strong> Saba will becomespecial status municipalities within the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s.4-94

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