Why Everyone Hates the IMF

Why does the IMF still bring back memories of hard times for so many Jamaicans? Dr. Matthew Preston and Dr. Thaon Simms sit down with Julian Morrison, “Dr. Doom,” to trace Jamaica’s economic story from the oil shocks and currency problems of the 1970s and 1980s through FinSAC, IMF austerity, JDX, NDX and the reforms that followed. The conversation explains why Jamaica kept borrowing, why debt restructuring was so painful, how EPOC helped rebuild confidence, and how falling government interest rates eventually pushed more capital toward the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Then the discussion turns to investors: What would it take for the JSE to return to its 2016–2019 form? Julian breaks down the role of interest rates, liquidity, market sentiment and earnings—and argues that when it comes to moving stock prices, flows and perception can matter before fundamentals. 📊 Highlights & Chapters: 0:00 - 12:58 | 🏦 What the IMF Actually Does 12:58 - 21:20 | 📉 Inflation, Interest Rates & Government Debt 21:20 - 39:48 | 🇯🇲 How Jamaica’s Debt Crisis Took Shape 39:48 - 1:01:47 | 💥 FinSAC, Austerity, JDX & Jamaica’s Credit Rating 1:01:47 - 1:16:05 | 🔄 NDX, EPOC & the Debt Turnaround 1:16:05 - 1:31:06 | 💵 IMF Reform, BFIXIT & Jamaica’s Recovery 1:31:06 - 1:38:44 | 📈 What Would Make the JSE Boom Again? 1:38:44 - 1:45:19 | 🧠 APOs, Liquidity & Market Sentiment 1:45:19 - 1:54:26 | 🏦 Scotia, NCB & the Cost of Capital 1:54:26 - 2:03:14 | 💰 Dividends, Investor Flows & What Moves Stocks 🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://limitlesspodcast.buzzsprout.com 🐥 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Limitless_pod 📷 Stay connected on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limitless_pod/ 💲 Get exclusive insights: https://bit.ly/Limitless-MMJA-Discount 👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share! ❓ What do you think matters most for another JSE boom: lower interest rates, stronger earnings, or better investor sentiment? ⚠️ Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and do not constitute financial advice. Please consult a financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Send us Fan Mail Support the show