Guyana and the Wider World

Introduction Today’s column continues my description of the nitty-gritty features or the key nuts and bolts of the universal basic income [UBI] mechanism, the Buxton Proposal, which I have long advocated for Guyana as the most effective means of eradicating its persistent poverty.

Introduction In today’s column I treat with 1] the operationalizing, scheduling and execution of the Buxton Proposal and 2] start my coverage of the Whys and Wherefores of cash transfers.

Introduction, proximate origin Some bizarre motives have been attributed to me for naming the suggested UBI mechanism for eradicating persistent poverty in Guyana the Buxton Proposal.

Introduction Today’s column provides a general introduction to my re-visit of the Buxton Proposal and the intended structure of my presentation.

Introduction Today’s column engages the IMF’s recent publication on Universal Basic Income, UBI schemes as a direct complement to last week’s, which engaged the World Bank study on the same topic.

Introduction Today’s and next week’s column combine to form a preface to my intended task of updating the Buxton Proposal.

Introduction Today’s column engages the  fifth of the six listed social protection mechanisms [state employment] that are widely utilized to address persistent poverty in emerging oil-rich economies.

Introduction Last week’s column referenced six mechanisms utilized by oil-rich economies pursuing poverty eradication. 

Introduction Back in early September this year I received a circular appeal from the Tri-continental Research Institute that was sent to its network of fellow Researchers in the Global South.

Introduction Today’s column introduces multi-dimensional measures of poverty in Guyana. I share the view that the best starting point for this topic, is through an introduction of the United Nations Human Development Report, UN, HDR and its Index HDI As the UNDP states, the HDI is a “summary measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living.

Introduction Last week’s column illustrated that for most of the 2000s Guyana’s poverty theorizing as well as its policy prescriptions have been constructed on the basis of data derived from headcount or headcount–related survey studies.This

Introduction In response to the Tricontinental Institute of Social Research’s circular call for assistance for crafting a new development theory and practice that seeks to release the poor from their persistent poverty, I ventured a response based on this long-running series on Guyana as the “newest and fastest rising petrostate in the Americas.”

INTRODUCTION Today’s column continues consideration of the circular communication sent to me by the Tricontinental Institute of Social Research, a network of research bodies in the Global South which, urges my contribution towards the construction of  “a new development theory that did not leave the poor trapped in their poverty”.

Introduction Last week’s column wrapped- up my consideration of ExxonMobil’s performance as a leading protagonist against global climate policy transition.

Introduction In today’s column I take on board more frontally the added reputational and business risks, which flow from the circumstance that ExxonMobil [Guyana’s lead oil Contractor] displays the characteristics of a zombie corporation as that term is commonly understood in the formularization of the dynamics of zombie firms in business and economics.

Introduction Today’s lead Operator/Contractor for Guyana’s oil and gas operations, ExxonMobil, has an unenviable history as both a 1] exemplar zombie corporation and 2] strong proponent of corporate information warfare against climate policies and programmes targeted at a 2050s transition.

Introduction In both my initial column in the series on the public auction of oil block rights and the likely remaining opportunity window for successful Guyana crude oil exportation and my later re-cap of this column, I have remained steadfast in my view that this window is likely to last until the decade of the 2050s.

Introduction Today’s column completes the task I had set on August 20 of re-visiting four topics in the series that dealt with the now twice-delayed holding of public auctions for Guyana’s oil block rights.

Introduction For clarity, my re-cap this week juxtaposes the ruling Stabroek Production Sharing Agreement, PSA alongside the proposed template by the authorities that has been designed to replace it, as and when the public auctions take place.

Introduction In today’s column I recap the gist of those earlier columns that were directed at taking stock of the prevailing condition of three key parameters facing Guyana’s oil and gas sector, on the eve of the planned switch away from the fiscal metrics of the Stabroek Block PSA, to the new fiscal template scheduled for implementing at intended public auctions.