Curb debt appetite to grow the economy
Dana Morris Dixon says Jamaicans need to curb their appetite for depreciating assets if they want their country to experience the kind of economic stability it needs to grow.
ECONOMIST DR Dana Morris Dixon says Jamaicans need to curb their appetite for depreciating assets if they want their country to experience the kind of economic stability it needs to grow.
Morris Dixon, who heads business development and research at one of the country’s most powerful conglomerates, the Jamaica National Group, says that for the country to survive, Jamaicans need to reduce their appetite for borrowing to finance purchases that will not facilitate or offer them increased financial returns.
Her comments are based on reported findings of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) in its Financial
Stability Report 2016, which reveals increasing indebtedness among Jamaican households. About $5.40 of every $10 of household income is used to “pay down” on debts, the report states. That compares to $3.30, a decade before, in 2006.
“We need comprehensive public education about managing our finances,” Morris Dixon underscored, noting that although the debt level among the country’s households was not the worst in the world, without proportionate increases in income, the problem will worsen.
HIGH HOUSEHOLD DEBT
“Globally, there is a similar trend taking place in terms of rising household debt. Several countries, particularly developed countries, have household debt that is higher than their gross domestic product (GDP), while in some countries, household debt is twice as high as GDP,” Morris Dixon explained, emphasising that there are many countries with a household debt-to-GDP ratio which is much higher than Jamaica’s.
“However, with high household debt and minimal growth in wages, consumption spending cannot be relied on as the key driver for economic growth,” she said.
Morris Dixon noted that borrowing can be good if people borrow to invest in appreciating assets, such as real estate; however, many loans in Jamaica are being used to purchase assets such as motor vehicles; and to finance other activities that diminish in value over time.
She noted that the improper use of credit cards, for example, is a major driver of personal debt, with the BOJ reporting credit card receivables of some $33.8 billion for 2016.
“During a survey, we found that when choosing a credit card, people are looking first at whether rewards and points are offered and not at the interest rate, which indicates a major problem,” she said.
“We need comprehensive public education about managing ” our finances