Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) suffers from chronically low rates of investment, which hurts economic growth. Since high taxes on corporations disincentivize firms´ investments, an important policy question is whether the region should reduce taxation on corporate profits. A first step in answering this question is to analyze how high the tax burden is on corporate … [Read more...] about Should Latin America and the Caribbean Countries Cut Taxes on Corporate Profits to Stimulate Investment and Growth?
Economy and finance ministries in the face of climate change: 7 advancements in the green fiscal agenda
There is no turning back now, the ministries of economy and finance are at the heart of climate action. These ministries are crucial in the fight against climate change, as both the goals of decarbonization and those of resilience and biodiversity protection demand strategic actions that require their unique management, leadership, and coordination abilities. What are … [Read more...] about Economy and finance ministries in the face of climate change: 7 advancements in the green fiscal agenda
How to Prevent Debt from Hurting Economic Growth
Three years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are still dealing with its economic consequences. Currently, one of the main points of concern is the excessive level of public indebtedness and the risk it represents to economic stability and economic growth. This year the IDB published its flagship study … [Read more...] about How to Prevent Debt from Hurting Economic Growth
Complying with Fiscal Rules in Latin America and the Caribbean: From Promises to Action
Fiscal rules have become a common policy tool to promote the sustainability of public finances, as the number of countries with at least one fiscal rule has grown from ten in 1991 to more than 100 by 2021. Although fiscal rules promise to support fiscal discipline and maintain debt sustainability, their track record is often mixed, as simply adopting a fiscal rule does not … [Read more...] about Complying with Fiscal Rules in Latin America and the Caribbean: From Promises to Action
How Do Inflation Shocks Affect Public Debt Dynamics?
The COVID-19 pandemic had a very large impact on government finances. As governments saw their revenues reduced and their expenditures increased to cope with the health and social emergencies, the public debt rapidly mounted. By the end of 2020, the debt-to-GDP ratios had increased by 10 percentage points (pp) compared to pre pandemic levels in the average emerging … [Read more...] about How Do Inflation Shocks Affect Public Debt Dynamics?