Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

Dominican Republic: The Economy
commitment. That USAID was able to implement 85 percent of
its program through private organizations is a healthy sign,
especially about private initiative, but it does not compensate
for full-fledged governmental participation. The lack of government
participation should not be seen as an excuse for the
complete dependence on the government as the engine of economic
development, as occurred in the past. The government,
however, must strengthen the agencies responsible for designing
reform measures and delivering services to the people.
Congress must be included in the process as well because after
years of being largely ignored, it has become a vocal player in
the country's budget and reform programs (see The Legislature,
ch. 4). The judiciary also must become involved if only
because it has been a key constraint to implementation of
much-needed reform. Continued participation by private organizations
and businesses will, of course, always be needed. Only
the combination of all these ingredients will enable the Dominican
Republic to effect a more equitable public resource allocation
and increase funding for badly needed social programs.
* * *
The USAID mission in Santo Domingo is a good source of
information on the general condition of the economy of the
Dominican Republic. USAID reports on various aspects of the
international community's development efforts in the Dominican
Republic also are useful, although they tend to emphasize
areas in which the mission is involved. USAID also credits many
private voluntary organizations operating in the Dominican
Republic and with which it cooperates closely. Another good
source is the Foreign Commercial Service of the United States
Department of Commerce, which prepares the Country Commercial
Guide for each nation.
The Dominican Republic's Banco Central de la Republica
Dominicana and, only since the late 1990s, the Secretariat of
State for Tourism, as well as the IMF and the World Bank, are
useful sources of statistical data. Those interested in following
the Dominican Republic's economic development on a regular
basis should consult the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual
and quarterly reports. (For further information and complete
citations, see Bibliography.)
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