Paradigms, public institutions, and competitiveness : a case study of Belize

Abstract

This chapter examines the issue of Belize's competitiveness at the macro-level. The main argument of the study is that Belize's public institutions and domestic policy choices for development were heavily conditioned by international macroeconomic policy prescriptions. The chapter also discusses the factors that have affected competitiveness in ;Belize and identifies excessive reliance on trade preferences as having a negative effect, since this may have discouraged economic diversification and market liberalisation. Most importantly, the chapter argues that competitiveness was not a fundamental objective of the successive economic development plans and strategies of Belize, since these do not contain a clearly defined and articulated competitiveness strategy, as different from a general economic development plan. The

chapter ends with a positive note that there are good trade- related opportunities for Belize as pressures build up to force

the country to compete without preferential arrangements.