In the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, there were signs that virus-related restrictions such as lockdowns and social distancing measures, meant to slow the spread of the virus, had a silver lining: air quality improvements. Air quality initially did improve in many cities of Latin America and the Caribbean, as measured both by air quality monitoring stations and … [Read more...] about Too Good to Be True: Air Quality Improvements due to Coronavirus Restrictions Are Not Widespread or Persistent
Patricia Yañez-Pagans
Patricia Yañez-Pagans is a Lead Economist in the Development Effectiveness Division (DVF) of IDB Invest, where she oversees the ex-post evaluation of projects and the knowledge and impact evaluation’s agenda. Before joining IDB Invest, she worked as an Economist in the Office of Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and was Professor of Economics at the Universidad Católica Bolivia. She has also worked as a consultant on evaluation topics for different institutions, including UNICEF and UDAPE of the Bolivian Ministry of Development Planning, the IDB Research Department and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Patricia holds a Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master’s in Applied Economics from Pompeu Fabra University, and a Master's in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics.
What does air quality tell us about the coronavirus response in Latin America and the Caribbean?
At the end of March, people in Lima saw something truly out of the ordinary: clear blue sky. Famous for its ever-present grey haze, Lima is one among many cities that have experienced a noticeable improvement in air quality as social distancing measures to combat the coronavirus have made people stay home and businesses change how they operate. While social distancing appears … [Read more...] about What does air quality tell us about the coronavirus response in Latin America and the Caribbean?
The Coronavirus Impact Dashboard: Measuring the Effects of Social Distancing on Mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean
Read this article in Spanish or Portuguese. Life as we know it has changed drastically and seemingly overnight as a result of the coronavirus. Measures are being taken to slow the exponential rise of infections and reduce pressure on the capacity of health systems to care for the sick. In the past few weeks, many countries have ramped up efforts to adopt social distancing … [Read more...] about The Coronavirus Impact Dashboard: Measuring the Effects of Social Distancing on Mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean
Are women with access to safe and fast public transit more likely to be employed and earn more?
If you knew that your commute was going to be slow and unreliable, and that you were likely to be attacked or sexually harassed, would you choose to work? This is the reality women face every day in many developing countries. In Latin America and the Caribbean women are less likely to have access to a private vehicle and use public transit more often than men. They are also … [Read more...] about Are women with access to safe and fast public transit more likely to be employed and earn more?