Sharri Byron
The University of Georgia
Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, I was surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna, pristine beaches, a friendly society and a culture
so rich and diverse that I have a great sense of pride in my being ‘trini’. Growth has evolved from the 1960s dependence on cocoa
and sugarcane.) Today, the energy sector contributes over 45.0% of real GDP, in 2006, and has been the fuel for the unprecedented growth rates of the last decade. Today, the Trinidad and Tobago economy is booming. In 2007, Trinidad and Tobago was the second highest recipient of direct foreign investment in the Western Hemisphere after Canada. The pace of development has been staggering
as the country boasts the highest GDP per capita in the Caribbean. But for as much success as the country has experienced, the
economy is dealing with some of the macroeconomic effects of its second energy boom.
I am aware that Trinidad and Tobago, and countries with similar characteristics, need to build technical capabilities and expertise in
many areas. My long-term goal is to be in a position to influence and design economic policy. I want my research to contribute towards understanding some of the challenges to small economies.
My interest in macroeconomics and policy began with my earlier academic and professional experience – as a Teaching Assistant to
the then Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies (UWI); as a Research Assistant at the Caribbean Center for Monetary Studies; and as a Senior Research Analyst at the Divestment Secretariat - where I was fortunate to have worked
at the level of policy formulation and implementation.
The following links will point to my current work, past projects, and my research ideas:
Current work
I have chosen to do a three-paper dissertation. Dissertation Motivation gives a detailed, but brief, motivation for my dissertation work titled “Three Essays on Foreign Aid Effectiveness in a Small Open Economy”. For the job market, I have included here a one-pager on the abstracts of the completed chapters in my dissertation in Dissertation Abstracts.
Past work
I have included a list of all other projects and research in which I was engaged during my professional career in Past Work.
Research ideas
Nonrenewable Resource presents a short motivation for some work that I began and would like to continue in the near future.