Both Sides of The Coin: The Story of The Central Bank of Barbados 1972-2017

Chapter 5: Some Notable Developments 209 published in the Annual Statistical Digest . Based primarily on feedback from users, the online database was upgraded during 2012. The additions included an updated and improved user interface, research initiatives and working tables, video tutorials, latest updates and current status of tables, as well as new search functionality. Among the Bank’s regular publications, the Quarterly Report and the Economic Review were the most versatile. Apart from being reference points for serious analysis of the economy, they were major outlets for the publication of scholarly work. Scholarly writing came in three forms: researched articles, book reviews and speeches by the governors and other senior staff. The first speech to appear in the Quarterly Report , in September 1975, had been delivered by Dr. Blackman at the opening of the Bank of Nova Scotia branch at Wildey early in the previous month. 102 In preparing a book review, the writer was required to describe the contents of the book, provide some critical analysis and assess the relevance to the Barbadian or Caribbean experience. The first book review to be published in the Quarterly Report (December 1982) was DeLisle Worrell’s assessment of Economic Stabilisation in Developing Countries , a publication by the Brookings Institution. In the early 1990s, the book review became part of the training requirements for new economists and was subject to peer review as well as comment by the deputy governor in charge of research and, occasionally, the governor. Economic Insight.bb, a new bi-annual award-winning magazine- type publication, was launched in 2016. It demystifies economics by using a minimum of jargon while sharing real world experiences and telling people’s stories. It examines how the Barbadian economy works, how it impacts everyday Barbadians, and what they can do to help. The theme of the first issue was Excellence and the cover story featured Rihanna. During 2017 the magazine won a Gold Award (the ADDY) for Magazine Design from the American Advertising Federation in its Caribbean district. Cover of first issue of Economic Insight.bb.