By Reinaldo Fioravanti and Alejandro Fros Haiti was still recovering from the catastrophic 2010 earthquake when Hurricane Sandy hit the island on October 23, 2012. The deadliest and most destructive storm of that year’s Atlantic hurricane season, Sandy caused enormous damage in Haiti, displacing 19,000 people and damaging or destroying more than 27,700 … [Read more...] about Rebuilding with Local Force: Response to Hurricane Sandy Strengthens Haitian Firms
Inter-American Development Bank
Music as an Opportunity for Development: An Alternative Approach to Improve Lives of Young People in Venezuela
By Xiomara Alemán, Suzanne Duryea, Nancy Guerra, Patrick McEwan, Rodrigo Muñoz, Marco Stampini, and Ariel Williamson Who could have imagined four decades ago that a few Venezuelan musicians rehearsing in a garage would lay the foundation for a project that to date has enrolled millions of children and adolescents? But that’s just what the Venezuelan National System of … [Read more...] about Music as an Opportunity for Development: An Alternative Approach to Improve Lives of Young People in Venezuela
Improving the Water Quality of the São Domingos River
By Marcia Maria Silva Casseb Catanduva, the capital of Brazil’s ceiling fan industry, is located in the exuberant hinterland of the state of São Paulo and is home to 120,000 people. Catanduva is one of the most promising regional economic centers in Northern Sao Paulo, thanks to its bustling service industry and household appliance manufacturing industry. In spite … [Read more...] about Improving the Water Quality of the São Domingos River
Do Productive Development Policies Work for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises?
By Lucas Figal Garone Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Argentina accounted for more than half of the gross domestic product (GDP) and three-quarters of all jobs in the second half of the 2000s. However, evidence suggests that market and coordination failures have threatened the productive potential of these firms. Among the many challenges faced by … [Read more...] about Do Productive Development Policies Work for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises?
More than Denim and Profits: Creating Jobs and Engaging the Community
By Max-Emanuel Hatzold Remaining competitive in the textile business is not easy, as it is an industry with low barriers to entry and intense global competition. As a result, profit margins are typically low. That’s why companies like Vicunha Ecuador S.A., one of the country’s oldest textile manufacturers, need to constantly invest in growth, efficiency, and … [Read more...] about More than Denim and Profits: Creating Jobs and Engaging the Community