On average, the purchasing power on St Eustatius fell by 0.8 percent in 2014, whereas Bonaire and Saba saw purchasing power improve by 1.2 and 2.7 percent respectively, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The changes are consistent with the contracting economy on St Eustatius and the economic growth on Bonaire, as CBS reported earlier.
On Bonaire, purchasing power rose by 3.2 percent in 2012, on St Eustatius and Saba by no less than 4.5 and 4.6 percent respectively. In 2013, purchasing power on all three islands rose less rapidly. Subsequently, the decline levelled off on Bonaire and Saba, but continued to fall on St Eustatius and even dipped below zero in 2014.
More purchasing power for people in work
Household members who were employed or self-employed in 2013 and 2014, saw their purchasing power improve in 2014. On Bonaire, the increase was 1.9 percent, on Saba 2.1 percent, but on St Eustatius only 0.1 percent. The purchasing power of benefits recipients living on Bonaire also improved in 2013 and 2014 (0.3 percent), as opposed to St Eustatius, where they faced a 0.9 percent loss of purchasing power. Benefits in the Caribbean Netherlands include social security benefits, pensions paid to widows and orphans and old age pensions. Statistical data on the purchasing power of benefit recipients on Saba are not available.
Purchasing power varies with age
On all three islands in the Caribbean Netherlands, persons living in households with a main breadwinner under the age of 40 saw their purchasing power improve in 2014. Most of them are still moving up the career ladder and their incomes are rising as they gain more work experience and qualify for better paid jobs. The purchasing power of people in this age category rose by 1.6 percent, versus 2.8 percent on Bonaire and Saba. Unlike on Saba, where older age groups also gained purchasing power, 40 to 59-year-olds and over-60s on St Eustatius had to cope with considerable loss of purchasing power.
The purchasing power of households with underage children on Bonaire and Saba rose by 3.0 and 2.8 percent respectively, on St Eustatius by 0.2 percent.
Lower incomes on St Eustatius lose purchasing power
On St Eustatius, people in the 75 percent lowest income brackets lost purchasing power, whereas the quarter in the lowest income brackets gained 1.5 percent. On Bonaire all income groups saw their purchasing power increase and the increase was income-related: higher incomes gained more purchasing power than lower incomes. On Saba, on the other hand, the lowest 25 percent of incomes gained most purchasing power (5.2 percent). This is partly due to an additional increase in minimum wages and benefits on Saba in 2014. Saba’s highest incomes gained only 0.3 percent.
Lower incomes on St Eustatius lose purchasing power
On St Eustatius, people in the 75 percent lowest income brackets lost purchasing power, whereas the quarter in the lowest income brackets gained 1.5 percent. On Bonaire all income groups saw their purchasing power increase and the increase was income-related: higher incomes gained more purchasing power than lower incomes. On Saba, on the other hand, the lowest 25 percent of incomes gained most purchasing power (5.2 percent). This is partly due to an additional increase in minimum wages and benefits on Saba in 2014. Saba’s highest incomes gained only 0.3 percent.
Relevant links
Customized tables :
IncomeCaribbean Netherlands: https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2016/36/201608%20inkomen%20caribisch%20nederland%202013def%20-%202014vlp%20afgerond.xlsx
Purchasing Power Caribbean Netherlands: https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2016/36/201608%20koopkrachtontwikkeling%20caribisch%20nederland%202013def%20-%202014vlp%20-%20afgerond.xlsx
Definitions
Factors affecting purchasing power
External factors, like collectively negotiated wage agreements, inflation <<link>>, tax rate changes, indexation of benefits, as well as individual factors, like job promotion, dismissal, a new job or going into retirement affect a person’s purchasing power. Changes in the composition of the household may also affect purchasing power, e.g. the birth of a child or a divorce procedure.
Purchasing power The percentage change in the per capita standardised household income is calculated between two consecutive years. Household incomes have already been corrected for price changes or inflation. The percentage changes are listed in descending order and the middle value (median) of the distribution reflects the average change in purchasing power. The median is a better measure than the average, because the distribution of the percentage changes is skewed.
