Foreword

The well-being of citizens is driven by multiple, interrelated dimensions. In fact, policy makers are required to reconcile economic, social and environmental objectives to ensure that their country’s development path is inclusive and sustainable and that the lives of its citizens improve. This involves looking at development from a comprehensive perspective, taking into account complementarities and trade-offs across policies.

Multi-dimensional Country Reviews (MDCRs) of the OECD Development Centre build on the above-mentioned ideas. They seek to analyse the main constraints to inclusive and sustainable development in a country from a multi-dimensional perspective. They also provide policy recommendations and aim to support the design of well-sequenced strategies for reform.

This is the first time that the Dominican Republic has benefited from a review of this kind. Others have been, or are being, conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean – including in Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay – as well as in other regions. The methodology is based on quantitative economic analysis, as well as qualitative approaches including foresight and participatory workshops that bring together the private and public sectors, civil society and academia.

This review seeks to support the Dominican Republic at a time when it is recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and striving to build a more inclusive and sustainable development model. The global context also poses important challenges, mainly the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine, high inflationary pressures at the international level, and the acceleration of global megatrends like the digital transformation or the green transition.

The report is structured in two main parts. Part I, the Initial Assessment, evaluates where the country stands in the various dimensions of Agenda 2030. Part II provides an In-Depth Evaluation of three critical areas for the development of the Dominican Republic: i) creating better jobs; ii) mobilising more financial resources to support development; and iii) embracing the digital transformation. In each of these areas, the Review provides policy recommendations to move from analysis to action, as implementation is a fundamental part of policy making, and one where well-designed policies often fail.

This report is the result of a joint effort: it was led by the OECD Development Centre with the collaboration and financial support of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development of the Dominican Republic, as well as the European Union, in particular its Delegation to the Dominican Republic.