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2024 | Buch

Introduction: Is Trinidad and Tobago Unique? Kapitel lesen Erstes Kapitel lesen

Unraveling Race, Politics, and Gender in Trinidad and Tobago’s Economic Development

verfasst von: Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah

Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book delves into Trinidad and Tobago's development with a fresh lens. It stands as the inaugural empirical exploration of the country's unique attributes, including its diversity, ex-British colony status, small-state categorization by population size, and its dependence on hydrocarbons.

Through meticulous empirical analysis, this book scrutinizes the nation's economic, social, and political outcomes within the context of these four distinctive parameters, offering fresh insights into the country's development trajectory.

What sets this book apart is its unwavering commitment to a data-driven approach. Drawing upon a vast array of databases from both international and national sources, it provides a thorough examination of development indicators, household welfare metrics, firm-level performance, and individual perspectives on a wide range of political, economic, and social issues.

For scholars, policymakers, and anyone with an interest in understanding how unique contextual factors shape a Trinidad and Tobago's development, this book offers an enlightening and data-rich perspective on the nation's journey towards progress and prosperity.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction: Is Trinidad and Tobago Unique?
Abstract
This chapter explores the uniqueness of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) based on the occurrence of five characteristics: a small population, reliant on hydrocarbons, ethnically diverse, a former British colony, and a democracy. The literature suggests that these characteristics individually and together, sometimes reinforcing each other or acting as countervailing forces, would shape much of the country’s political, economic, and social outcomes. The empirical data align with these assertions insofar as TT underperforms in economic growth, governance, and life expectancy when compared to relevant peers for each distinctive trait.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 2. Political Development: Parliament and Political Parties
Abstract
This chapter examines the political development of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) with a focus on the development of political parties and the country’s parliamentary system. The country’s political structure follows a single-member constituency with a first-past-the-post voting system, rooted in an ethnic-based party setup. Despite fair elections and civil liberties, TT’s political culture remains underdeveloped, leading to limited political engagement, alongside a flawed democracy, as highlighted by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Flawed democracies maintain free and fair elections and basic civil liberties but grapple with governance weaknesses, an underdeveloped political culture, and low political engagement. The political landscape is largely shaped by two parties, PNM and UNC, historically gathering support along racial lines rather than ideological or class-based differences. This trend, evident in youth voting patterns, hints at the persistence of race-driven politics. While the PNM initially held power after independence, electoral shifts have occurred since the 1990s, revealing an evolving political dynamic. In fact, marginal seats have become pivotal, indicating a more competitive electoral arena and potential shifts in voter preferences, especially in coalition scenarios.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 3. Political Development: The Executive’s Size and Quality
Abstract
This chapter examines the political development of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) with a focus on the size of the executive and the quality of public institutions. The structural makeup of TT implies a substantial but sub-par public sector, marked by inefficiency and ineffectiveness. These expectations are mostly borne out in the data. Compared to similar country groups, TT boasts a notably larger public sector, evident in public spending, investment, and wages. TT lags in public institutional quality across various measures, including property rights, trust in politicians, and transparency in government decision-making. Notably, the country performs better in judicial independence but falls short in fostering public trust in politicians and curbing favouritism in official decisions. TT’s policies exhibit mixed performance, showcasing strengths in stability and resource allocation but weaknesses in enforcement and public regardedness.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 4. Political Development: Payoffs to the Voter Base and Corruption
Abstract
This chapter examines the political development of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) with a focus on payoffs to the voter base and corruption. TT can be described as an ethnic-based patronage democracy where voters prioritize parties based on ethnicity rather than political ideologies. The data shows that shifts in employment by ethnicity occur under different political administrations, favouring the ethnic base of the ruling party. This rationalizes voting along ethnic lines as it increases the chances of securing public jobs when one’s party wins. Ethnicity and political affiliation influence attitudes towards corruption, with insiders showing more tolerance. Trust in the government is generally low and fluctuates based on the ethnic background of the prime minister in power, leading to shifts in trust levels between administrations, particularly among certain demographics. This chapter underscores the importance of combating corruption and bolstering trust in the government.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 5. Economic Development: From Sugar to Hydrocarbons and Beyond
Abstract
This chapter examines the economic development of Trinidad and Tobago (TT) by describing the country’s transition from a sugar-based economy in the eighteenth century to one reliant on hydrocarbons. The discovery of crude oil in 1857 propelled the development of the country’s oil and gas sector, with initiatives like the Point Lisas industrial park fostering the growth of the energy sector. However, after shifting from mainly oil to natural gas in the mid-1990s, the country now faces dwindling energy exports and reduced investments in the energy sector. This underscores the pressing need for structural reforms to boost competitiveness along with economic diversification policies.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 6. Economic Development: The Macroeconomic Perspective
Abstract
This chapter examines Trinidad and Tobago’s (TT) economic challenges stemming from commodity cycles and resource dependency. The country faced two commodity cycles leading to extended stagnation, exacerbated by pro-cyclical policies and slow reforms. TT’s growth is heavily reliant on global commodity price fluctuations, resulting in higher volatility compared to similar economies. Beyond volatility, prolonged economic contractions stem from declining productivity and competitiveness, and an undiversified economic structure. Labour productivity declines are most notable in the areas of public administration, trade, and transport. Total factor productivity, crucial for sustained growth, has declined post-2008. The data also shows symptoms of the Dutch disease such as an overvalued exchange rate, sluggish manufacturing growth, rapid service sector expansion, and declining contributions from agriculture and manufacturing to overall output. An unfavourable business conditions, limited access to finance, and workforce quality are found to further hinder economic growth.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 7. Economic Development: The Labour Market
Abstract
This chapter examines gender and race gaps in labour participation, wages, job distribution, and income inequality in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). The labour market data shows that despite a 25% rise in female labour force participation over the period 1991–2015, males have consistently held a higher participation rate. In terms of ethnicity, Trinidad and Tobago nationals of African descent (ATTs) had higher labour force participation compared to those of Indian descent (ITTs), while unemployment rates have declined for both ethnic groups. Although little difference was noted in occupational ethnic makeup, significant variations in job distribution among genders were evident. That is, the labour market tends to be more segregated along gender than racial lines. Wage gaps were not systematically different between ATTs and ITTs in general, but favoured ITTs in the public sector, while the private sector showed more substantial disparities favouring males regardless of their ethnic group. Nevertheless, economic growth has been partly redistributive, with all groups benefitting, especially those at the lower end of the income distribution.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 8. Economic Development: The Private Sector
Abstract
This chapter examines Trinidad and Tobago’s (TT) non-energy private sector. The recent sub-par performance of the non-energy sector, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent sluggish recovery, highlights a broader trend of underperformance since the decade ending in 2019. The disconnect between the energy and non-energy sectors further hampers the latter’s growth, with declines in energy sector activity negatively impacting the non-energy sector’s growth. Though some industries within manufacturing and services sectors have shown resilience, there exist disparities based on firm size and age. Smaller enterprises face more challenges, showing mostly negative growth rates in contrast to their larger counterparts. Regression analyses highlight the unfavorable profile of the private sector in terms of size, age, legal form, and trade orientation. Microeconomic barriers such as access to finance, crime, infrastructure limitations, and innovation gaps greatly affect firms, with a lack of innovation standing out as the primary obstacle. Addressing these challenges can create a more conducive environment for business expansion in TT.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 9. Social Development: Education
Abstract
This chapter examines educational outcomes in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). Education is crucial for a country’s development, with strong influences on its political, social, and economic development. In TT, substantial investment in public education is evident, with free access from ages 3 to 18, along with additional benefits like subsidised meals and tertiary education support. While TT has shown improvement in educational access, its quality of education seems to lag other peers. Test scores indicate a lower performance than expected, especially in international assessments for reading, literacy and mathematics. Within TT, disparities in educational outcomes exist based on school type, gender, and ethnicity, with denominational and private schools showing better average test results, although these test scores may not fully represent a school’s long-term impact on students beyond academics. Moreover, significant differences in performance between religious groups (acting as proxies for ethnicity) and genders are emerging, with trends indicating a shift in university enrolment demographics. Overall, while strides have been made in educational access, there is room to improve quality, equity, and inclusivity in TT’s education system.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 10. Social Development: Health
Abstract
This chapter examines health outcomes in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). An epidemiological shift in TT is evident, marked by a decrease in communicable diseases and a rise in chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), now claiming more lives than infectious ones. TT faces a substantial burden from NCDs, surpassing other comparable country groups in healthy life years lost. Modifiable behaviours such as unhealthy diets, excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and sedentary lifestyles drive most NCDs. Notably, different ethnic groups exhibit varying susceptibilities to certain illnesses, with ITTs facing higher risks of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes due to lifestyle factors. Physical inactivity, prevalent across ethnicities, disproportionately affects ITTs due to their increased engagement in risky behaviours. Additionally, a significant discrepancy exists between ethnic groups regarding work disability due to illness, with ITTs being more affected. Addressing these health disparities requires tailored interventions considering ethnic-specific risks and promoting healthier lifestyles, especially focusing on physical activity.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 11. Social Development: Crime
Abstract
This chapter examines security concerns in Trinidad and Tobago (TT), which citizens identify as the most important challenge facing the country. TT’s high homicide rate, surpassing comparable countries, stems from a number of related factors, including the proliferation of criminal gangs that have been fueled by the drug and gun trade. Domestic violence, predominantly inter-partner violence, and abuse in schools are also prevalent. The society exhibits tolerance towards various forms of violence, including physical punishment for disobedient children and unfaithful wives, with ethnic differences in attitudes. Crime incurs substantial economic costs, with high government spending on security and substantial private-sector losses. Trust in the justice system, police, and Supreme Court is relatively low, with variations across ethnic groups. ITTs generally display higher trust levels compared to ATTs. These challenges underscore the widespread security issues facing the country and the fragile public trust in security-related institutions within TT.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 12. Social Development: Who We Are? The Value and Happiness
Abstract
This chapter examines the intersection of culture and happiness in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). It draws on the literature that relates a country's socioeconomic progress to its cultural values, where higher economic development aligns with values of self-expression and secularism, while lower growth aligns with survival and traditional values. The data shows that TT exhibits the following distinctive patterns: lower self-expression and higher survival values alongside higher traditional and lower secular values. Interestingly, despite ethnic diversity, there are minimal variations in values among ethnic groups. Overall, TT stands out as a notably happier country than comparative country groups due to higher GDP per capita and social support.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Chapter 13. Conclusions
Abstract
This chapter summarises the main conclusions of the preceding chapters, by highlighting the main findings of the political, economic, and social sections of the book.
Jeetendra Khadan, Inder Jit Ruprah
Backmatter
Metadaten
Titel
Unraveling Race, Politics, and Gender in Trinidad and Tobago’s Economic Development
verfasst von
Jeetendra Khadan
Inder Jit Ruprah
Copyright-Jahr
2024
Electronic ISBN
978-3-031-54656-3
Print ISBN
978-3-031-54655-6
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54656-3

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