Sandra Sookram, Ph.D.

Director, SALISES, St. Augustine

Focus:

Economics

Email:

Sandra.Sookram1@sta.uwi.edu

Tel:

(868)662-2002 Ext. 82391

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Bio

Dr. Sandra Sookram, a distinguished economist, has been appointed as the Director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies at the St. Augustine Campus. Prior to this role, she served as a Senior Lecturer in Economics at the School of Business and Management at the Five Islands Campus. She previously held the position of Deputy Governor (Monetary Operations and Policy) at the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago from 2015 to 2020, overseeing departments such as Banking Operations, Reserves and Domestic Market Management, Research, and Information Services.

Before her tenure at the Central Bank, Dr. Sookram was a Fellow at the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Her significant contributions to the field of economics include extensive research published in reputable journals and book chapters. She also played a vital role in mentoring students at the M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph.D. levels.

Dr. Sookram's outstanding work has been recognized through various awards, including the UWI Vice Chancellor’s '60 under 60' and 70+ Outstanding UWI Women for research. Internationally, she was honored with a British Academy Fellowship, supporting her research on poverty and welfare. Furthermore, she has collaborated with several international agencies, addressing critical research areas pertinent to the Caribbean region.

In addition to her academic achievements, Dr. Sookram served on the North Central Regional Health Authority Board as Deputy Chairman from 2010 to 2013, demonstrating her commitment to public service and governance.

Dr. Sookram holds a B.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of the West Indies, showcasing her expertise and dedication to the field.

Academic Profile

Director, SALISES, St. Augustine
Profession: Economist
Research Areas: Climate change, poverty, crime, growth and competitiveness

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Economics), The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. 2005
Master of Philosophy (Economics), The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. 2000
Bachelor of Science (Economics), The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine Campus. 1997.

Publications

Chapters in Books
Sookram, S., S. Teelucksingh and P.K. Watson. 2004. Trading Relationships in the Caribbean. In Accords Commerciaux dans la Caraibe et échanges entre CTFA et pays ACP de la Caraïbe, edited by Devoue, E. and E. Jos, Paris: Editions, Publibook.

Artana, D., S. Auguste, R. Moya, S. Sookram and P. Watson. 2009. Trinidad and Tobago: Economic Growth in a Dual Economy. In Growing Pains – _Binding Constraints to Productive Investment in Latin America, edited by Agosin, M., E. Fernandez-Arias and F. Jaramillo, 365-415. Washington, D.C.: Industrial Development Bank.

Sookram, S. and Hogan, R. 2012. Distance Learning Challenges and Opportunities facing the Two World Regional Universities. In: Transnational Distance Learning and Building New Markets for Universities. IGI Global: USA.

Sahadeo, C. and Sookram, S. 2013. Mentorship, Leadership and Human Resource Development in Trinidad and Tobago. In: How Can HR Drive Growth? Edited by Saridakis, G. and Cooper, C. Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. (New Horizons in Management Series), pp. 118-140.

Mohammed, A-M, Sookram, S. and Saridakis, G. 2014. Rationality. Encyclopedia of Law and Economics, pp 1-10. Springer: New York. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-7883-6-404-1

Journal Articles

Maurin, A., S. Sookram and P.K. Watson. 2006. Measuring the Size of the Hidden Economy in Trinidad and Tobago. International Economic Journal 20(3): 321-34.

Sookram, S. and P.K. Watson. 2008. The Informal Sector and Small Business Activity in an Emerging Economy. Journal of Development Studies 44(10): 1531-1555.

Sookram, S. and P.K. Watson. 2008. The Informal Sector, Poverty and Gender: The Case of Trinidad and Tobago. Journal of Eastern Caribbean Studies 33(4): 43-68.

Sookram, S. and Saridakis, G. 2009. The Effect of Economic Factors on the Tax Ratio in Trinidad and Tobago. Journal of Developing Areas 42(2): 111-128.

Sookram, S. and Strobl, E. 2009. The Role of Educational Choice in Occupational Segregation: Evidence from Trinidad and Tobago. Economics of Education Review 28(1): 1 -10.

Sookram, S. P.K. Watson and F. Schneider. 2009. Structure and Size of the Household Sector of the Hidden Economy in Trinidad and Tobago. Applied Economics 41(27): 3545-3559.

Sookram, S. 2009. The Impact of Climate Change on the Tourism Sector in Selected Caribbean Countries. Caribbean Development Report 2(30): 204-225.

Sookram, S., G. Saridakis, M. Basdeo and K. Sumesar-Rai. 2010. Serious Crime in Trinidad and Tobago: An Empirical Analysis Using Time-Series Data Between 1970-2007. Journal of Eastern Caribbean Studies, (1): 60-75.

Sookram, S., A-M. Mohammed and G. Saridakis. 2011. Do Victims of Crime Fear Crime More? Social and Economic Studies, 60(2): 125-142.

Kedir, A. and Sookram, S. 2011. Poverty and Welfare of the Poor in a High Income Country: Evidence from Trinidad and Tobago. Journal of International Development. (DOI: 10.1002/jid.1824).

Saridakis, G., Sookram, S. and Mohammed, A-M. 2013. Does Crime Deter UK Tourists from Visiting Trinidad and Tobago? Tourism Economics, 19(4): 959-966.

Saridakis, G. and Sookram, S. 2013. Violent Crime and Perceived Deterrence: An Empirical Approach using the Offending, Crime and Justice Survey. Economic Issues, 19(1): 23-55.

Saridakis, G., Mohammed, A-M, and Sookram, S. 2015. Does Crime Affect Firm Innovation? Evidence from Trinidad and Tobago. Economics Bulletin, 35(2): 1205-1215.

Mohammed, A-M and Sookram, S. 2015. The Impact of Crime on Tourist Arrivals - A Comparative Analysis of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Social and Economic Studies, 64(2).

Sookram, S., Hosein, R., Bookram, L. and Saridakis, G. Determining Factors of FDI Flows to Selected Caribbean Countries. Journal of Risk and Financial Management 15, No. 2:48.

Hosein, R., Gookool, R.. Saridakis, G. and Sookram, S. 2023. “Leveraging growth spillovers to navigate CARICOM trade relations in the post-COVID-19 global space.” EuroMed Journal of Business. https://doi.org/10.1108/EMJB-04-2022-0084

Abubakar, Y.W.A, Saridakis, G., R., Litsardopoulos, N., Munoz Torres, Sookram, S., and Hosein, (2023). Impact of Covid-19 policies on women self-employment rates: An Integrated Conceptual Framework. International Review of Entrepreneurship. (In press)

Other Refereed Publications

Moya, R., A-M. Mohammed and S. Sookram. 2010. Productive Development Policies in Trinidad and Tobago: A Critical Review. IDB Working Paper Series #115. Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank.

Auguste, S., R. Moya, and S. Sookram. 2011. Housing Finance Policy under Dutch Disease Pressure: The Mortgage Market in Trinidad and Tobago. IDB Technical Note No.: IDB-TN-302. Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank.

Ramlogan, A and S. Sookram. 2018. Coordination of Monetary and Fiscal Policies in Trinidad and Tobago. Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago Working Paper 02/2018.

Edited Journal Issue

Sookram, S. (2011). Beyond Survival: Turmoil and Turbulence in Small Developing States. Social and Economic Studies, 60 (3,4).

NON-REFEREED RESEARCH BASED/SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS

Artana, D., S. Auguste, R. Moya, S. Sookram and P.K. Watson. 2007. Competitiveness and Growth in Trinidad and Tobago. IDB Research Project. 87 pages.

Artana, D., A-M. Mohammed, R. Moya, S. Sookram, P.K. Watson. 2009. Industrial Policies in Trinidad and Tobago. IDB Research Project. 81 pages.

Sookram, S. 2011. The Impact of Climate Change on the Tourism Sector in Aruba. ECLAC Research Project. 64 pages.

Sookram, S. 2011. The Impact of Climate Change on the Tourism Sector in Curaçao, St. Maarten and Special Municipalities of the Netherlands. ECLAC Research Project. 67 pages.

Sookram, S. 2012. Economic Priority Areas, Jobs and Skills for Growth in Trinidad and Tobago. NIHERST Research Paper. 67 pages

Sookram, S. and Watson, P.K. 2012. A Political Economy Analysis of the Budgetary Process in Trinidad and Tobago. IDB Research Project. 34 pages.

Moore, W., Sookram, S and Clarke, C. 2013. Projecting the Economic and Financial Implications of the Highly Indebted Commonwealth Small and Vulnerable Economies. Commonwealth Secretariat Research Paper. 52 pages.

Projects

2023: Climate Insights and Knowledge Structures for Economic Sustainability in the OECS. (Collaborators: Department of Environment, Antigua and Barbuda and University of Trinidad and Tobago)
Research Activity: To extract and collate a knowledge base on climate variables and social economic activities in the OECS and to apply machine learning techniques to gain insights and prioritize economic activities suitable for the sustainability of the region.

PAST PROJECTS:
Title of Project: The Informal Sector and Gender in the Caribbean
Research Activity: To determine the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of individuals engaging in informal sector activity in Trinidad and Tobago and to ascertain whether there is any wage differential between workers in the formal and informal sector, and between males and females in the informal sector.
Title of Project: Growth and Competitiveness in Trinidad and Tobago (Collaborator: Foundation for Latin American Economic Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Research Activity: To examine the constraints to growth and competitiveness in Trinidad and Tobago by employing macro and micro datasets.

Title of Project: Productive Development Policies in Trinidad and Tobago: A Critical Review (Collaborator: Foundation for Latin American Economic Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Research Activity: To undertake a critical review of the productive development policies implemented in Trinidad and Tobago and suggest a proposal for reform and the new direction that policies could take to deal with market failures.

Title of Project: Measuring Poverty and Inequality in Trinidad and Tobago: Cross-Sectional Evidence from the Survey of Living Conditions 2005
Research Activity: To measure the rate of poverty in Trinidad and Tobago and to examine the determinants of poverty and household welfare based on the Survey of Living Conditions 2005 dataset.

Title of Project: The Impact of Climate Change on the Tourism Sector in Aruba and the (former) Netherlands Antilles.
Research Activity: There are two main objectives of this project. The first is to model and analyse climate change and related impacts on the tourism sector in Aruba and the (former) Netherlands Antilles over the next 40 years based on selected climate change scenarios. The second is to estimate the costs of adapting and mitigating climate change in the tourism sector in these two countries for the next forty years.

Title of Project: Criminality in the Caribbean. The main country of focus for this research activity has been Trinidad and Tobago so far (due to data availability) and it involved a thorough examination of different aspects of, and issues related to, crime by employing both micro and macro data on crime.

Title of Project: Housing Finance in LAC: What is Holding it Back? A proposal for Trinidad and Tobago. (Collaborator: Foundation for Latin American Economic Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Research Activity: in this project analyses are being undertaken of the housing market, housing finance system and policy initiatives implemented in the housing sector. Further, we attempt to establish links between outcomes and inputs and to suggest policy recommendations for the housing sector.

Title of Project: A Political Economy Analysis of the Budgetary Process in Trinidad and Tobago.
Research Activity: The main objective of this study is to analyse the budget process of Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) with the aim of understanding how the budget outcome is determined and who influences this outcome.

Title of Project: Economic Priority Areas, Jobs and Skills for Growth in Trinidad and Tobago.
Research Activity: to identify the current and emerging national economic priority areas that would support the thrust to a knowledge-driven economy for Trinidad and Tobago.

Title of Project: Projecting the Economic and Financial Implications of the Highly Indebted Commonwealth Small and Vulnerable Economies.
Research Activity: to undertake a quantitative analysis of the economic and financial implications of rising SVE debt to investigate the potential impact on: growth, poverty, fiscal policy, access to finance (both concessional and non-concessional as well as official and private) and the likelihood of debt restructuring and debt default.

Title of Project: Managing Adaptation to Coastal Change: Canada and the Caribbean (Collaborator: University of Ottawa)
Research Activity: In this research activity, coastal communities in the Caribbean region and in Canada’s Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic regions were examined to determine the impact of sea level rise on these communities. The objectives of this research focus on communities, universities and created alliances and networks.

Graduate Studies

M.Phil. Registered Student:
Thesis Title: Impact of the Design and Governance of Talent Management and Organizational Culture Programmes in Driving Business Results Within Manufacturing Organizations in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ph.D. Registered Students:
Present: The Impact of Sectoral Growth on Poverty Reduction and the Changing Dynamics of the Determinants of Poverty in Jamaica
Present: Approaches to National Development in the Post-Independence Era: 1962-2020 – A Case Study of the Trinidad and Tobago Experience
Present: The role of Behavioural Economics in sustainable/Renewable Energy and Climate Change Policy in Trinidad and Tobago
Present: The intersection of the Westminister/Whitehall Model and the Pure Plantation Theory on Governance in Trinidad and Tobago

Courses Taught

Economics (UWI five Islands Campus, the University of the West Indies, Antigua)

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Sandra Sookram, Ph.D.

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