AN ANALYSIS OF FARM-RETAIL PRICE SPREAD FOR JAMAICAN FRESH FRUITS

This paper uses the relative price spread model to analyze the farm-retail spread for pineapple, pawpaw and watermelon in Jamaica. Our findings suggest that price increase in the retail market is not being passed down to pineapple and pawpaw farmers and only marginally to watermelon farmers.Demand and Price Analysis,

AN EXAMINATION OF THE EMPIRICAL PROPERTIES OF DUALITY BETWEEN THE RESTRICTED PROFIT, UNRESTRICTED PROFIT, AND PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS

This research examines the empirical properties of duality theory. A comparison of the Hessian matrices calculated from the normalized unrestricted and restricted profit, and production functions indicate that duality is highly sensitive to measurement error and relative price variability. Keywords: duality, restricted and unrestricted profit functionsduality, restricted and unrestricted profit functions, Demand and Price Analysis, Production Economics,

Empirical properties of duality theory

This research examines selected empirical properties of duality relationships. Monte Carlo experiments indicate that Hessian matrices estimated from the normalised unrestricted profit, restricted profit and production functions yield conflicting results in the presence of measurement error and low relative price variability. In particular, small amounts of measurement error in quantity variables can translate into large errors in uncompensated estimates calculated via restricted and unrestricted profit and production functions. These results emphasise the need for high quality data when estimating empirical models in order to accurately determine dual relationships implied by economic theory.Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Jamaica: A Case Study in Debt Sustainability and Sustainable Development

Jamaica's debt burden has pitched economic development against environmental protection in the country's quest for sustainable development.  Anemic economic growth has prompted the government to institute revenue and expenditure reforms and implement two debt exchanges that have stabilized the economy.  However, the debt burden has limited government's fiscal space to engineer a much needed capital formation with the most promising prospect for any major foreign direct investment coming from a proposed US$1.5 billion investment to build a World Class Logistics Hub in a protected area.  Thus, the debt situation has led the government to prioritize "what is to be developed" at the expense of "what is to be sustained" as Jamaica channels its sustainable development course

Corporate Disclosure of Sustainability Reporting and Value Relevance in Developing Countries - A Review of Literature

In many countries, sustainability reporting has now become popular and necessary, as well as the impact of sustainability implementation and disclosures on firm value remains mixed. As a result, the focus of this study is primarily on the impact of sustainability reporting on the value relevance of firms in developing countries. This paper draws on arguments from a variety of theoretical frameworks; stakeholders' theory and legitimacy theory. A systematic approach was adopted in this study to form the basis for the study’s conclusion and recommendations. The results of the evaluated existing literature revealed that the influence of sustainability reporting on business value was contradictory. A vast number of studies, on the other hand, showed a favourable association between sustainability reporting and business value. Second, the research discovered that the degree of sustainability disclosure in emerging countries was lower than in other industrialized countries. It was discovered that existing research on the industry analysed and sample size utilized had certain methodological issues. This paper adds to the field by providing crucial insights into the influence of sustainability reporting on company value using samples from developing countries. As a main proposal in the report, implementing sustainability disclosure methods may increase the value relevance of firms

Challenges in the Management of Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (Hunter’s Syndrome) in a Developing Country: a Case Report

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter's syndrome) is an X-linked chromosomal storage disorder due to deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase with patients rarely living till adulthood. Failure to identify patients early could contribute to an increased morbidity as identified in this case report.CASE DETAILS: An eight year old patient with Hunter's syndrome identified five years after disease onset with severe cardiovascular complications exemplifies the challenges faced in resource-limited countries towards making diagnosis and treatment of rare conditions. Elevated urinary glycosaminoglycans levels or a strong clinical suspicion of Hunter's syndrome, as identified in the index case, is a prerequisite for enzyme activity testing. Urinary mucopolysaccharide(MPS) level was 69.6mg/mmol(normal range is 0.0 - 11.6mg/mmol), and the confirming MPS electrophoresis analysis showed elevated heparan sulphate in the urine sample. Enzyme activity testing, with absent or very low iduronate-2-sulfatase activity, is diagnostic. However, the scarce availability and high cost of these tests is another constraint in making a diagnosis.CONCLUSION: Identification and management of mucopolysaccharidosis type II pose a problem in resource-constrained countries due to late presentation, lack of facility for diagnosis and treatment, cost and expertise required for the management.KEYWORDS: Mucopolysaccharidosis, Hunter's syndrome, Mucopolysaccharid

Cost of care of chronic non-communicable diseases in Jamaican patients: the role of obesity

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic cost of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs) and the portion attributable to obesity among patients in Jamaica.METHODS: The cost-of-illness approach was used to estimate the cost of care in a hospital setting in Jamaica for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, osteoarthritis, and high cholesterol. Cost and service utilization data were collected from the hospital records of all patients with these diseases who visited the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) during 2006. Patients were included in the study if they were between15 and 74 years of age and if female, were not pregnant during that year. Costs were categorized as direct or indirect. Direct costs included costs for prescription drugs, consultation visits (emergency and clinic visits), hospitalizations, allied health services, diagnostic and treatment procedures. Indirect costs included costs attributed to premature mortality, disability (permanent and temporary), and absenteeism. Indirect costs were discounted at 3% rate.RESULTS: The sample consisted of 554 patients (40%) males (60%) females. The economic burden of the nine diseases was estimated at US$5,672,618 (males 37$ 1,157,173 (males 23%; females 77%). Total direct cost was estimated at US$3,740,377 with female patients accounting for 69.9$ 1,932,241 with female patients accounting for 50.6% of this cost. The greater cost among women was not found to be statistically significant. Overall, on a per capita basis, males and females accrued similar costs-of-illness (US$9,451.75 vs. US$ 10,758.18).CONCLUSIONS: In a country with per capita GDP of less than US$5,300, a per capita annual cost of illness of US$ 10,239 for CNCDs is excessive and has detrimental implications for the health and development of Jamaica

Statistical literacy: an enabler of statistical capacity development in the Caribbean

This study reviews the level of statistical skills and competencies of staff of National Statistical Offices of the Caribbean as a critical step in enhancing the statistical capacity of National Statistical Systems in the subregion. Building on discussions of statistical literacy in national policies and regional frameworks such as the CARICOM Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS), the study explores statistical literacy and competencies using self-reported responses of NSO staff to a structured questionnaire that focused on technical expertise of staff and their perception of the statistical skills of their colleagues at the NSO and within the NSS.Abstract .-- Introduction .-- I. Background .-- II. Statistical literacy in the Caribbean .-- III. Statistical literacy and competences at the National Statistical Offices .-- IV. Conclusions

The importance of time-use surveys in guiding social policies: the gendered impact of COVID-19 on paid and unpaid work in the Caribbean

Recognizing the importance of unpaid work is critical to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, which is Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Like most SDGs that are focused on the people dimension of the 2030 Agenda, the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed some of the gains made in gender equality and women’s empowerment. Following the onset of COVID-19, many women have been forced to devote greater time to unpaid work activities, the extent of which has not been previously well-documented in the Caribbean. In this study, we evaluate how women and men allocated their time to different unpaid work in the household during the pandemic to gain a better understanding of the pattern of change in time-use in times of shocks and to inform the formulation of appropriate policy responses. Using data from a Rapid Gender Assessment Survey of the impacts of COVID-19 in the Caribbean, we found that women, especially those who work in the services sector, were more impacted by job losses than men. Although already overburdened with unpaid work prior to the pandemic, women spent more time in unpaid work, particularly in caring for children, than men during the pandemic. Unfortunately, there is no established system of time-use surveys in the Caribbean to provide a robust data set that could be used to establish trends in pre-pandemic use of time by women and men. The findings of the current study point to the need to conduct time-use surveys on a regular basis. In addition to providing statistics on how women and men allocate their time for different purposes, such surveys will provide insights into factors impeding women’s labour market participation in the Caribbean. Towards this end, important considerations for implementing time-use surveys are presented in this study for the consideration of National Statistical Offices of the CaribbeanAbstract .-- Introduction .-- I. Background .-- II. Gendered impacts of COVID-19 on paid and unpaid work. A. Source of data for the study. B. The gendered impact of COVID-19 on time-use in paid work. C. The gendered impact of COVID-19 on time-use in unpaid work . D. Implications of the findings .-- III. Considerations for the design of time-use surveys .-- V. Conclusion

Case Report: Unilateral post-tuberculosis lung destruction and massive haemoptysis in pregnancy with successful outcome

Post-tuberculosis destroyed lung is a fatal complication of pulmonary tuberculosis which can manifest with severe life-threatening haemoptysis. Its occurrence during pregnancy is rare and challenging because of the significant risk to both the mother and the foetus. We present an unbooked 36 year old G6P4+1 (4 alive) woman who presented with chronic cough, massive haemoptysis and multiple pregnancy (twin) at 35 week gestation. She had completed anti-tuberculosis treatment twice at and over nine years prior to presentation. On evaluation, there were clinical and radiological evidences of unilateral (right) destroyed lung but no evidence of active tuberculosis; resuscitation was with antibiotics, blood transfusion and oxygen therapy followed by an emergency caesarean delivery due to significant maternal compromise. The  symptoms resolved following antibiotic therapy and she was subsequently discharged home. Post-tuberculosis destroyed lung is a fatal uncommon condition that may present during pregnancy and requires a multi-disciplinary specialist care to ensure good maternal and foetal outcome. Keywords: Unilateral post-tuberculosis lung destruction; Massive haemoptysis; Twin pregnanc