In what could be one of its most potentially promising initiatives since the completion of its Growth Inducement Strategy nearly 15 years ago at the beginning of 2011, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) is making a comprehensive call for research papers for its Growth Inducement Programme (GIP).

This triennial research report due in 2026 will apparently help shape Jamaica’s recent pivot away from the past decade of macroeconomic stabilisation to a more inclusive economic growth strategy. This pivot has never been more critical, as despite the Growth Inducement Strategy under the leadership of Dr Gladstone Hutchinson, in the words of the report’s main economic consultant, Professor Donald Harris, Jamaica has had a long-standing “implementation deficit” in achieving inclusive growth.

The report’s themes are very timely and seek to address measures vital for national economic development. They include cultivating a growth mindset; trust-building (specifically actionable strategies particularly for youth engagement); how crime undermines inclusive growth; the demographic challenges of an ageing population; social protection frameworks; waste-to-energy innovations; building climate resilience in the agricultural sector; enhancing agribusiness; leveraging education for growth; digital connectivity; sustainable road maintenance; bureaucratic reforms to improve/ease speed and cost of doing business; renewable energy; expanding the creative economy; and very importantly, from “ideas to action”, strategies to overcome the implementation deficit long identified by its growth strategy consultant, Professor Harris, and many others, currently on his way to a conference at Cambridge University.

Perhaps most pressing of all, the PIOJ asks for a paper on the potential risks and benefits for Jamaica of shifting global alliances on trade and investment. In other words: How can Jamaica strategically position itself to promote its own inclusive economic growth in the new global environment.

According to Laura Levy, director of the GIP, researchers should address contemporary challenges, taking into account key legislative reforms and global trends.

“At this time, we are hoping to see the research taking on the current challenges, so it is important that key legislative changes and international developments are considered in the abstracts. Policymakers who will consider the reports need to understand the socio-economic trends among us,” Levy stated.

“To highlight one area: In artificial intelligence [AI] we need to adapt, but there is also now the need to focus on how citizens can experience benefits to the quality of their lives within the emerging and present AI environment.”

Levy underscored the impact of past reports on national discourse, citing two influential articles from the 2023 edition: “The article ‘Economic Diversification Through E-Commerce’ by Kellie-Ann Murray put a spotlight on the revenues that are being generated by social media influencers across platforms. This was an area that was previously not captured and provides ongoing legitimacy and consideration for persons who are monetised on social media.”

“Another from the same report is the article ‘Assessment of Government’s Divestment Process’ by Omar Chedda, an area that has relevance on the transparency of the handling of assets held by the Government for the people.”

In their press release, the PIOJ also noted that the GIP Research Report has been cited in academic publications, reinforcing its status as a platform for scholarly visibility on sustainable economic development.

They quoted researcher Ruth Chisholm, emphasising its role in bridging research with policy development.

“The paper produced by the FHI 360 team for the USAID Advance Programme was selected for/published in the GIP’s Research Report 2019, significantly contributed to the dissemination of labour market sector information to inform select technical tertiary academic programmes, particularly select associate degree programmes.

“I encourage researchers to participate in the ongoing Call for Papers, as it offers a great opportunity to share information of national importance. The GIP Research Report is a tool to inform new programmes and strengthen initiatives that can help local organisations to have greater impact among the communities they serve.”

The latter information is particularly important in the governments “people” initiative, the P in the ASPIRE acronym, as labour force “skills” are now arguably our key binding constraint.

The 2026 GIP Research Report will be published following the current call for papers, with submission guidelines available via the PIOJ’s website and social media platforms. The PIOJ is urging researchers to consider both local and international socio-economic disruptions in their studies, as these factors will significantly impact Jamaica’s development efforts. The current deadline for the call for abstract submissions for the 2026 GIP Research Report is May 15, which I hope will be extended to at least the end of May, or perhaps longer, if they want private sector involvement.

In the launch of his pivot for growth late last year and at the Jamaica Stock Exchange early this year, Prime Minister Andrew Holness articulated a vision very much in line with many in the private sector, emphasising the need for access for all through an opportunity or “inclusive” economy (not trickle down but bottom up), safety (we are now seeing a sharp reduction in murder), infrastructure development (we are no longer cutting the infrastructure budget to meet a fiscal target), bureaucratic reform, and economic diversification.

None of these topics are new, and much are in line with the National Planning Summit of 2007 or the partnership for progress (now social partnership since 2013) initiatives of 2003 or, going even further back, the national industrial policy of 1996. However, there is now an extremely urgent need to create a new vision for Jamaica that reflects the enormous changes in the global economy. Old assumptions and ways of doing things will no longer do in our version of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World in which the small island of Jamaica either rides the wave or founders from Schumpeterian “creative destruction”. For this reason the 2026 report needs the full support of all Jamaicans, not just our academics, and particularly the private sector and the ordinary citizen.