JAMAICA IS ranked at number 86 by the Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, an annual competitiveness report published by the World Economic Forum. This places Jamaica behind Barbados (47) and Costa Rica (59) and slightly ahead of Trinidad and Tobago (92). Occupying the top five positions are the United States, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Singapore. Jamaica, on the other hand, has steadily slipped from number 60 to its current position.

The report further classifies Jamaica as being at stage two according to its level of development. Stage two economies are classified as developing while most of the least developed economies of the world are grouped in stage one. Stage two economies are described by the report as 'efficiency driven'.

To be more competitive, these economies must pay attention to factors that will improve efficiency: higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market sophistication, technological readiness and market size.

Developed economies

Interestingly, the economies of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are classified by the Global Competitiveness Report as in transition from stage two to stage three, that is, from developing to developed economies. Stage three economies are said to be 'innovation driven' and will increase their ability to compete by focusing on improving business sophistication and innovation.

As one reads this report, and contemplates Jamaica's situation, the global economic crisis and our response to date, it is not unreasonable to feel a sense of despair and hopelessness. It is not so much that we are not the number one Caribbean nation on the list (congratulations to Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago). This sense of hopelessness stems from the response that we have given to address our current economic woes. One gets the feeling that, as a nation, we are in a global game 'playing for pride'. In other words 'we done lose already, let's just do the best we can'. If we lose this last game then it's 'no problem', this is Jamaica, we have lost many before.

I have always thought that, as a nation, we lost out from making the link between our performance at the 2008 Olympic Games, and indeed the current World Cham-pionships, and the solution to our economic plight. The performance at these games is indicative that if Jamaica sets out to compete on the global economic stage, it's not a matter that we can do well, but we will do very well.

I am, etc.,

Hermon Edmondson

jamaicalead@gmail.com