Annual Economic and Financial Review -December 2018

2018 Annual Economic and Financial Review

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

vulnerable. Risks intrinsic to the ECCU include the governments’ inability to close their fiscal financing gaps and source concessionary funding to support a growth-enhancing agenda. Additionally, climate risks and escalating crime rates around the region and negative spill-off effects associated with climate change are potentially detrimental to the thriving tourism industry. These risks could de-rail economic gains, if not addressed adequately. On the upside, domestic policies to spur growth and enhance resilience augur well for the region’s development prospects.

______________________________________________________________________________ iii Eastern Caribbean Central Bank