Colombia, like many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, has high levels of inequality, in both in terms of income and the country’s geography. This characteristic has negative implications for its economic growth and the quality of life of its population. Severe income inequality at the national level requires, among other measures, progressive fiscal policies to … [Read more...] about Territorial Inequalities in Colombia: Realities and Prospects
Evaluation methods and techniques
Impact investing and thematic bonds for climate change action
As countries begin their trip to Dubai for the UN climate summit beginning Nov 30, it is clear that fulfilling the promise they made in Paris seven years ago to limit temperature rises to well below 2 degrees Celsius is looking increasingly unattainable. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC’s) sixth assessment, revealed that even if the countries of the … [Read more...] about Impact investing and thematic bonds for climate change action
Liquidity or Capital? How Access to Credit Helps Rural Producers in Mexico
Accessing credit is often a challenge for small and medium businesses. Lack of credit is an even greater problem for rural producers in developing countries, where it represents a critical roadblock to growth and economic opportunities. In a new study, we look at the effects of increasing access to credit through a loan program for small and medium-sized agricultural … [Read more...] about Liquidity or Capital? How Access to Credit Helps Rural Producers in Mexico
The Pandemic Is Increasing Inequality in Latin America
Inequality in Latin America has increased during the pandemic. That is our conclusion in a forthcoming study in which we noted that 2020 saw a reverse in the trend toward poverty reduction and greater equality that started 20 years ago. The study is based on data generated through employment and household surveys conducted over the past three decades. For 2020, information … [Read more...] about The Pandemic Is Increasing Inequality in Latin America
Could access to electricity contribute to happiness in the interior of Suriname?
An electrification project in the interior of Suriname—known as the Hinterland—is leading researchers to believe that electricity could be one of the keys to happiness. The statement is certainly a bold one but is not new. A recent study of the impact of an IDB-backed project to connect five villages in the country’s rural interior to an electrical grid suggests that locals … [Read more...] about Could access to electricity contribute to happiness in the interior of Suriname?