Creating Knowledge That Lasts

As part of this course, you will create a range of learning artifacts that reflect your analysis, thinking, and engagement with real-world economic issues. Rather than submitting work that exists only inside a course management system, you will own your work by creating it in a digital space you control.
One of the most exciting ways to complete this assignment is by building a public-facing website that brings together your text, graphs, data visualizations, and relevant links in one place. In doing so, you move beyond being a passive consumer of knowledge and step into the role of a knowledge creator.
In the spirit of open and renewable assignments, this project is designed to live well beyond the end of the semester. You are encouraged to create work that is not destined for a virtual garbage bin after grading, but instead adds value to the world, reaches a broader audience, and showcases your skills, insights, and intellectual growth.

Archipelago Macroeconomics Project

Overview
Throughout this semester, we have explored key macroeconomic indicators—such as GDP, inflation, unemployment, and income inequality—and learned how these reflect a nation’s economic performance and well-being. In this group project, you will apply these concepts to a real-world, comparative study that connects economics with geography, environment, and social development.
This project is part of Pace University’s Mellon Foundation–funded initiative, “Islands, Archipelagos, and Cultural Ecologies.”

The project invites you to connect your study of macroeconomics with broader themes of resilience, decolonization, and environmental justice—while learning from the unique experiences of island nations.
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Team Assignment
You’ve now been assigned to your groups for the Archipelago Macroeconomics Project! 🎉 You can see which Caribbean Island(s) your group will be researching — and who your teammates are — by going to Brightspace → Tools → Groups.
Please make sure to connect with your group members right away and start coordinating your work. This is a big and exciting project that ties together everything we’ve been learning about GDP, inflation, unemployment, and environmental challenges — so the sooner you start, the better your final presentation will be!
 
Project Description
Working in teams of five students, each group will be assigned a Caribbean island (or small island economy). Your task is to collect, analyze, and visualize macroeconomic, environmental, and social data for your assigned island(s) and compare these to similar indicators for:
  • The United States (national level)
  • New York State
  • New York City (and Manhattan or Long Island or Staten Island for data available)
Your final output will consist of a mini website or interactive infographic and a poster presentation, both designed to communicate your findings clearly and visually. Selected projects will be featured in the Spring 2026 Archipelago Showcase.

Key Indicators to Research
Each group must locate and report the following indicators (latest available data, ideally from 2020–2025):

General Information
1. Name of the island(s)
2. Capital city
3. Population
4. Official currency

Economic Indicators
5. Real GDP (in USD)
6. GDP per capita (constant USD)
7. Inflation rate
8. Unemployment rate
9. Gini coefficient (income inequality)

Social & Environmental
10. Life expectancy
11. CO₂ emissions per capita (if available)
12. Air Quality Index (if available)

You may include any additional interesting facts—such as tourism dependence, remittances, education levels, or trade relations—that help explain your country’s economic context.

Comparative Analysis
After compiling data for your island(s), compare each indicator to the United States, New York State, and (if possible) New York City or one local islands (Manhattan, Staten Island, Long Island).
Your analysis should:
  • Highlight similarities and differences in economic performance and living standards
  • Interpret what these indicators suggest about growth, inequality, and resilience
  • Discuss potential reasons behind observed differences (e.g., geography, colonial legacy, policy choices)

Environmental Focus
To conclude your project, include a section that discusses climate change and environmental issues affecting your island(s):
  • What are the major environmental challenges (e.g., rising sea levels, hurricanes, coral reef loss, droughts)?
  • How are these affecting GDP, population, inflation, and unemployment?
  • What actions or policy initiatives have been taken to promote environmental resilience or adaptation?
This component connects your project to the themes of the Mellon Foundation Archipelago Initiative, linking economic analysis with justice, vulnerability, and sustainability.
​Deliverables
  1. Website / Digital Poster like Google Sites – Something that can be publicly shared
    • Include visuals (graphs, maps, charts, images)
    • Clear explanation of findings and comparisons
    • Data sources listed and labeled
    • Note: You’re welcome to build your website on any platform you prefer — it doesn’t have to be created with Google Sites.
  2. Short Written Summary part of the website
    • Summarize key findings
    • Reflect on the connection between economics and environmental resilience
Grading
Your final grade for the Archipelago Macroeconomics Project will be based on two key components:
1. Quality of the Deliverables
– This includes the overall strength, accuracy, and presentation of your final work — the mini website or infographic, poster, and written summary.
– You’ll be graded on content depth, visual clarity, use of data, and how well you connect your analysis to broader economic and environmental themes.
2. Individual Contribution and Teamwork
– Each of you will complete a peer evaluation at the end of the project, assessing how much effort and collaboration each team member contributed.
– These peer scores will be used to adjust individual grades within your group.
Here’s how that adjustment will work:
⚠️ Important: This is a team project, but your individual effort matters. If you don’t communicate with your teammates or fail to complete your assigned portion, you risk losing most (or all) of your project grade.
Collaboration is part of what this assignment is designed to teach - so please check in with your group early, divide responsibilities clearly, and support one another throughout the process.

GRADING RUBRIC

A. Website Exists & Is Accessible (5 points)
  • Functional website or digital poster link submitted
  • Link opens correctly and content is viewable
Points: /5
B. Required Data & Indicators (30 points)
All required indicators are included for both the assigned island(s) and the comparison regions (United States, New York State, and NYC / local island where available).
Data must be accurate, clearly labeled, and sourced.
Required indicators:
General Information
  1. Name of the island(s)
  2. Capital city
  3. Population
  4. Official currency
Economic Indicators
5. Real GDP (USD)
6. GDP per capita (constant USD)
7. Inflation rate
8. Unemployment rate
9. Gini coefficient (income inequality)
Social & Environmental Indicators
10. Life expectancy
11. CO₂ emissions per capita (if available)
12. Air Quality Index (if available)
Points: /30
C. Visuals & Presentation (20 points)
  • Clear and readable charts, graphs, maps, and images
  • Visuals enhance understanding of the data
  • Website is organized and easy to navigate
Points: /20
D. Comparative Analysis (20 points)
  • Clear comparison between island(s), U.S., New York State, and NYC/local region
  • Interprets similarities and differences (not just listing numbers)
  • Connects results to geography, development, or policy where relevant
Points: /20
2. Environmental & Climate Analysis (15 points)
  • Identifies major environmental or climate challenges (e.g., hurricanes, sea-level rise, droughts)
  • Explains how these challenges affect economic outcomes such as GDP, employment, inflation, or population
Points: /15
3. Written Summary (10 points)
  • Clearly summarizes key economic and environmental findings
  • Reflects on resilience, inequality, sustainability, or vulnerability
Points: /10

Peer Evaluation Form
This simple peer evaluation form was designed to assess individual contributions to the Archipelago Macroeconomics Project. Students evaluated their teammates’ participation, effort, collaboration, reliability, and quality of work throughout the project. This feedback helped ensure fairness in grading, encouraged accountability, and recognized meaningful contributions to the team’s collective work.

Resources


Anguilla:  
Antigua and Barbuda:  
Aruba:  
Bahamas:  
Barbados:  
British Virgin Islands:  
US Virgin Islands:  
Cayman Islands: 
Cuba:  
Curaçao:  
Dominica:  
Dominican Republic:   
Grenada:  
Guadeloupe: 
Haiti:  
Jamaica:    
Martinique:  
Puerto Rico:  
St. Kitts and Nevis:  
St. Lucia:  
St. Martin (French):  
Sint Maarten (Dutch):  
 St. Vincent and the Grenadines:  
Trinidad and Tobago:  
Turks and Caicos Islands:  
Belize:
Guyana:
Suriname: 
Additional Suggested Data Sources