Access to adequate finance is critical to any business. For the most vulnerable - smaller firms and those owned and operated by women - finance is the lifeblood. Financing allows businesses to improve their services, expand to different markets, provide jobs in their communities, and contribute to the growth of the economy. New joint research from the IDB’s Caribbean … [Read more...] about Improving access to finance for women entrepreneurs and smaller enterprises crucial for the Caribbean
Jamaica
Successful digital transformation: It’s not just about technology…
What are the factors affecting the digitalization of the labor markets and the widening skills gap? One + one (1+1) is not equal to successful digital transformation. Performance and cost are two key drivers of technological development. As transistors increasingly fit into smaller spaces, processing power is increased and energy efficiency improved, all at a lower cost for … [Read more...] about Successful digital transformation: It’s not just about technology…
Making better messages: Can behavioral design improve disaster risk communications?
Typically, Disaster Risk Management (DRM) agencies assume that vulnerable populations will act on informational advisories, internalizing messaging accordingly to secure their safety. They assume that once appropriate information is received that people will behave in the way advised. This isn’t always the case. The sheer divergence of personal risk management behaviors … [Read more...] about Making better messages: Can behavioral design improve disaster risk communications?
An new industry-wide approach to promoting female employment
As countries keep struggling to overcome the effects of the pandemic, women continue to be among the most affected – both at home and at work. The barriers women face in the workplace are already well-documented, and there’s mounting evidence that this is getting worse. Many women who have held onto their jobs have found their work and parenting responsibilities all but … [Read more...] about An new industry-wide approach to promoting female employment
Digital Infrastructure’s Outsized Potential for the Caribbean
Our latest issue of the Caribbean Quarterly Economic Bulletin highlights new IDB research suggesting that many Latin American and Caribbean countries lag behind most advanced economies in digital and telecommunications infrastructure. Closing these gaps could yield dividends in productivity, employment, and growth—particularly for the six members of the IDB’s Caribbean Country … [Read more...] about Digital Infrastructure’s Outsized Potential for the Caribbean