The Rasheed Griffith Show

Send us a textIn this episode of Caribbean Progress, Rasheed speaks with Humberto Macias, who previously served as the Deputy General Counsel of Honduras PrósperaThe promoter behind Próspera ZEDE. Being one of the first team members to relocate to Honduras for this tremendous project, Rasheed and Humberto discuss the growth of Próspera thus far and Honduras’ varying demographics. They dive into the details of the recent repeal of the ZEDE laws by the Castro administration and the effects this might have on foreign direct investment to Honduras. They also discuss why Próspera will remain resilient even amidst the changing political environment. Note: ICSID - International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ZEDE - Zonas de Empleo y Desarrollo Económico [Spanish] (Zone for Employment and Economic Development)ResourcesPrósperaKey Points[05:46] Próspera’s Target Market[07:05] The Diverse Population of Honduras[09:31] The Legal Foundation of Próspera (The ZEDE Law)[14:07] Dissecting the Views on the ZEDE Law and its Repeal[18:50] The Implications of the Repealed ZEDE Law[21:59] Explaining the Double Repeal of the ZEDE Law[23:24] International Trade Treaties / The Kuwait Bilateral Treaty with Honduras[26:03] Politicians Awareness Towards the Effects of a Repeal[27:26] International Assumptions on The Próspera Project[30:24] Reinstatement of the ZEDE LawContact Info: Humberto MaciasX (Twitter): @HumbertoNMaciasEmail us at progress@cpsi.org

Send us a textIn this experimental episode of Caribbean Progress with Rasheed Griffith, Rasheed reviews three Caribbean songs with two long-time friends, Kenidi Prescod and Akil Walton. These songs fall under the genre of social commentary calypso, referencing political decisions throughout the Caribbean. This episode was fun, and we hope you enjoy it.Note: Bajan means Barbadian.The lyrics of the songs discussed in the episode are in the transcription section. ResourcesGypsy - Sinking ShipRas Iley - IMF Take OverMighty Sparrow - FederationCaribbean Progress Podcast episode with Anton HowesNotes Towards Caribbean Dollarization (Part 1) by Rasheed GriffithWhat Should A Caribbean Think Tank Do? by Rasheed GriffithContact Info: CPSIX (Twitter): @cpsi_orgEmail us at progress@cpsi.org

Send us a textIn this episode of Caribbean Progress, Rasheed interviews Anton Howes, a historian of innovation. This conversation had no bounds as they speculated what the world could have been if we had utilized water for power in the industrial revolution instead of coal. What if the Caribbean countries remained under British rule? They examined the abolitionist movement in light of the oft-quoted Williams thesis and how economists can better theorize the modern world. The overriding theme is how we can think about progress in an historical context.  Key Points[04:14] Japan Improvement Mentality[07:00] Suspicious Formation of Government Policy[08:22] The Western Design of Progress[15:18] The Water Counterfactual [21:55] Can Economist Explain the Modern World? [28:06] The unfortunate endurance of the Eric Williams thesis[35:35] Could the Caribbean have outpaced Britain?[40:29] The Decline Caribbean Federation[44:18] The Caribbean was Created in London[46:29] Why did the Baltic States fail as Colonial powers?ReferencesArts and Minds: How the Royal Society of Arts Changed a NationContact Info: Anton HowesWebsite: www.antonhowes.comX (Twitter): @antonhowesEmail us at progress@cpsi.org

Send us a textIn this episode of Caribbean Progress, Rasheed chats with Tianyu Fang, a Fellow of CPSI and a well-known tech journalist. This was a far-reaching conversation, from philosophizing on the ideological limits of selling citizenship to the practicality of fiscal policy constraints from reductions in passport demand. They explained why some Caribbean countries have become overly reliant on their Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) sectors. They also get into the weeds about why so many Caribbean passports are purchased by Chinese citizens.  Rasheed and Tianyu are working on a detailed report about Caribbean CBIs for the Caribbean Progress Studies Institute. ResourcesIus Doni: The Acquisition of Citizenship by Investment by Dr. Christian H. KälinKey Points[01:43] What are Citizenship by Investment Programs (CBI)[04:00] Creation of CBI in the Caribbean[07:22] The False Sanctity of Citizenship[09:53] Gentrification through CBI Fallacy[12:31] Non-Caribbean Citizenship and Residency Programs[16:32] An Unspoken Dependence on Passport Sales[17:34] Is The Revocation of Citizenship Possible?[20:14] The US Misconception of Caribbean Reliance on CBIs[22:28] Counter Arguments to CBI in the Caribbean by US organizations[23:47] Alleged Involvement in Caribbean CBI Programs by the CCP[26:18] Do Chinese CBI Applicants Move to the Caribbean?[27:34] Why are Caribbean Citizenships such a Hot Commodity?[33:25] Bad Due Diligence as an Argument Against CBI in the Caribbean[40:34] CBI as an Economic Scapegoat Contact Info: Tianyu FangWebsite: www.tianyufang.netX (Twitter): @tianyufEmail us at progress@cpsi.org

Send us a textIn this episode of Caribbean Progress, Rasheed speaks with Dr. DeLisle Worrell, a renowned economist and former Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados. They discuss many policy topics, including why the standard macroeconomic models of the foreign exchange constraint in open economies should be revised.  How dollarization brings fiscal credibility to consolidation policies. They also explore the economic dislocation that occurred in the Caribbean post-independence.  ResourcesDevelopment and Stabilization in Small Open Economies: Theories and Evidence from the Caribbean Experience by Dr. DeLisle WorrellKey Points[07:08] Against Foreign Currency Constraints [10:46] How to Measure Productivity and Competitiveness[12:23] Prudent Management of a Small Economy [17:31] Faulty IMF and Caribbean Government Models[26:34] Optimal Government Fiscal Consolidation[27:28] Difficulty for Barbados  to Have a Good Fiscal Consolidation Policy[28:43] The Better Economic Model for Caribbean Central Bankers[31:16] What it Means to Import Inflation[32:08] Understanding Currency Substitution in the Caribbean[40:21] Barbados 2013 Fiscal Crisis[43:54] How a Government Borrows from the Central Bank[45:57] How Sovereign Are Caribbean Countries After IndependenceContact Info: Dr. DeLisle Worrell Website: www.delisleworrell.comEmail us at progress@cpsi.org

Send us a textIn our first episode, Rasheed invited Craig Palsson to discuss the current state of Haiti. They delve into its past, from pre-independence rivalry to the turbulent period of US occupation, up to the most recent presidential assassination. Next, they analyze Haiti's lack of institutional credibility as a significant factor in perpetuating its decline. Compared to other countries in the region, Haiti's persistent failure leaves us wondering what’s next. Can anything be done?ResourcesApocalypse - There are no natural disasters, only social ones. By Junot DiazHaiti's Paper War: Post-Independence Writing, Civil War, and the Making of the Republic, 1804–1954 by Chelsea StieberWhy We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace by Christopher BlattmanWe Dream Together: Dominican Independence, Haiti, and the Fight for Caribbean Freedom by Anne EllerA Whirligig of Revolutionary Presidents: State Capacity, Political Stability, and Business in Haiti, 1910-1922 by Craig PalssonAmerican Imperialism's Undead: The Occupation of Haiti and the Rise of Caribbean Anticolonialism by Raphael DalleoContact Info: Craig Palsson Website: https://www.craigpalsson.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MarketPowerYTEmail us: progress@cpsi.org