Background

For each of the challenges facing Haiti, we will engage some of the world’s and the region’s top economists to analyze the problem, outline the most important solutions, and provide estimates of costs and benefits for each solution. As a result, each challenge will have a number of solutions, with estimates of how much good they will do per gourde spent.

With this research, we can engage the public and other stakeholders throughout the country to talk about how to solve problems, based on strong economic evidence. There will be lots of intriguing stories on what works and what doesn’t and on the cost and benefit of different solutions.

Which solutions should get top priority? With analyses for all of the main challenges, we will ask thought leaders, youth forums and decision makers, engaging the entire public through media, to participate in priority setting. We can then ask policy makers, businesses, development agencies and other stakeholders to prioritize across all of the different areas. 

Imparted with knowledge on those solutions that work, coupled with an understanding of where a gourde goes furthest, it will empower the public, policy leaders and decision makers to focus more on some of the most incisive development  solutions for Haiti. While real politics will still be influenced by many other considerations, this project will give head wind to the least impactful solutions while providing tail wind to the best solutions for Haiti. 

If this can push just 5% more good solutions through and prevent 5% of poor solutions from being implemented, the end result will be phenomenal.

Click here for information in French. 

This project is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada. The opinions and interpretations in the publications are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.