A Tale of Two Nations; A Comparative Analysis of Divergence between Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Abstract

This paper explores the historical and contemporary development of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, offering a comprehensive comparison of the two nations over the last seventy years. While existing research has often focused on singular aspects to explain the divergence in development between these countries, this paper adopts a multidimensional approach. The thesis challenges prevalent arguments regarding the initial conditions of each nation and their long-term impacts. It delves into several key time frames spanning the past 140 years to elucidate the factors influencing growth trajectories. The paper contends that policy choices and political attitudes, particularly regarding trade, debt management, and educational investment, play a crucial role in explaining the development disparity. It argues that the Dominican Republic consistently pursued more fruitful policies compared to Haiti, leading to greater political stability, economic growth, and social progress. Despite the complex interplay of historical events and contextual factors, this paper asserts that policy decisions made over time significantly contribute to the observed development discrepancies between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. By analyzing various dimensions such as economics, politics, social welfare, and healthcare, it establishes a framework linking specific policy choices to long-term development outcomes in each nation.