By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
June 1, 2021
The Central Bank of Barbados has put out an invitation for persons in the Caribbean to submit working papers and research conducted on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the region.
Persons whose research has been deemed suitable will be required to present their data and findings at its 41st Annual Review Seminar themed “Pursuing resilience in the shadow of COVID: Overcoming the Pandemic’s economic fallout”. The seminar is carded to take place virtually during July 27 to 30.
Themes include Economic Growth and Human Development: Beyond 2020: Reimagining the future, Promoting and protecting natural resources and the environment, Monetary and Financial Sector issues: Promoting Viability through innovation, Efficiencies in the Public Sector as a Catalyst for sustainable growth, Perspectives for openness Sustainable engagement for small open economies, and Fiscal and Debt dynamics in times of uncertainty.
However, interested persons must submit their abstracts by June 4 via the Central Bank’s website.
The aim, is said to put into perspective the Caribbean’s experience in grappling with the pandemic, and how it has chosen to respond to the social and economic stresses it has placed on governments and policymakers through discussion among academic minds, economists and other policymakers within the financial sector. The pandemic if anything, has been as reminder of the region’s economic vulnerabilities to external shocks due to their size, and international trade and financial relationships.
The bank says “Life with COVID has necessitated and proliferated the need for innovation, with digital platforms acting as surrogates for face-to-face interaction, however the significance of social interactions to the engine of economic activity has resulted in a protracted recovery. As a result, great emphasis has been placed on facilitating the transition to post-pandemic economies, with inclusive and more resilient growth being at the forefront of policy discussions against the backdrop of uncertain fiscal and debt dynamics”.
Since 1981, the Central Bank of Barbados’ Annual Review Seminar has hosted the forum geared at stimulating policy related discussions among regional thinkers in the financial sector and other areas of economic expertise.