In these essays, researchers and political leaders analyze the economy and international relations of the Caribbean nations. They propose forms of integration for the region to link productive structures among private sectors, increase institutional flexibility, and reduce costs of doing business.

In these essays, originating from a 1994 conference at Harvard University, researchers and poltical leaders analyze the economy and international relations of the Caribbean nations. The authors propose new forms of integration for the region to link productive structures among private sectors, increase institutional flexibility, and reduce costs of doing business. To achieve sustainable growth, Caribbean countries must also develop their human resources. Merely opening the economy to the outside will result in further social and economic destabilization, unless governments manage the transition so that lower-income groups do not bear disproportionate burdens. Caribbean society must cultivate a new sense of civic identity, in which people feel free to practice their cultural traditions and embrace common goals.