Joseph Cox
Institute for Innovation and Growth Inc.
Managing Partner
Joseph Cox is a distinguished Applied Economics Consultant with over 30 years of experience driving economic transformation across the Caribbean. A Jamaican national with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Economics from the University of the West Indies, he has championed sustainable growth, innovative policy, and business reform. He also served on various Boards including the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) providing strategic governance. In September 2024, he was appointed Managing Partner at the Institute for Innovation and Growth, where he launched initiatives such as H.I.N.T. (a behavioural policy optimization framework), a mobile innovation ecosystem, the Regional Skills Bank, and CAPRELYST (infrastructure financing mechanism). He also leads Joseph Cox and Associates, ensuring that his strategic vision benefits both regional and international communities.
Formerly, as an Assistant Secretary-General at CARICOM for nine years, Joseph led economic integration efforts, post-COVID-19 recovery strategies, and sustainability initiatives like the Regional Climate Change Envoy and Made in CARICOM. He advanced key sectoral reforms in energy, ICT, agriculture, investment, and transportation, including the Regional EV Strategy, dutyfree computer equipment policies, and the Multilateral Air Services Agreement. Prior to CARICOM, he was the Executive Director, Growth Secretariat at the Planning Institute of Jamaica and Managing Partner at the Centre for Growth and Development, establishing financial institutions, securing US$174 million in business financing, and leading tax and business climate reforms that improved capital accessibility and economic resilience.
Internationally, Joseph has collaborated with institutions like the IDB and World Bank on economic growth and development projects. He has authored several influential research papers, including The New Normal – A Post-COVID Primer for Business and Utility of VAT Holidays. He also published the CARICOM Business newsletter (2017–2023), reinforcing regional economic knowledge-sharing. His contributions have earned him prestigious accolades, including the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Jamaica, underscoring his lasting impact on economic innovation and sustainable development.