The streams of analysis on the UN climate change talks in Glasgow last December read like the opening of the Charles Dickens’ novel, A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…” There is some truth to both sides. There was deep regret that the goal of developed countries to … [Read more...] about Five Reasons COP26 is a Big Deal for Finance Ministries
Huáscar Eguino
Huáscar Eguino is a Leading Specialist in Fiscal Management at the IDB. He is an economist specialized in fiscal management of subnational governments, fiscal decentralization, management of public investment, and financing of territorial entities. He has over 20 years of experience in the IDB, having worked in 17 countries in the Latin American region and provided direct advice to more than 75 subnational governments. Currently, his work focuses on the management of public investment and the strengthening of subnational fiscal management. He holds a Master’s degree in Local and Regional Development from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS, Netherlands) and has postgraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and Universidad de los Andes.
Three areas where finance ministries can help solve the climate crisis
Data compiled by NASA shows that 2020 was the hottest year globally on record, tied with 2016, when compared to the average temperature recorded between 1951 and 1980. Since the 1880s, the Earth's average temperature has risen more than 1°C and there is consensus that countries need to move far more aggressively to decarbonize their economies. Finance and planning ministries … [Read more...] about Three areas where finance ministries can help solve the climate crisis
Public investment in decarbonization: opportunities and strategies for economic recovery
Beyond the health emergency, the pandemic has dealt a severe blow to the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean. According to the World Economic Outlook report, it is estimated that our region will contract by 9.4% in 2020, which will constitute the worst recession in a long time, even deeper than that caused by the global financial crisis of 2008-09 and the debt crisis … [Read more...] about Public investment in decarbonization: opportunities and strategies for economic recovery
The strategic role of Ministries of Finance to boost sustainable infrastructure investments
The adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement principles on climate change provide a prime opportunity to promote a new form of development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Public investment in infrastructure and services can play a key role in LAC countries’ efforts to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. Sustainable … [Read more...] about The strategic role of Ministries of Finance to boost sustainable infrastructure investments
Networks for decentralization and subnational fiscal management: the USA experience
Most local and state level governments in the United States belong to networks and organizations that promote cooperation and the exchange of knowledge to strengthen subnational fiscal management (SFM). One of the leading of such organizations is the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Since subnational governments in Latin America and the Caribbean face … [Read more...] about Networks for decentralization and subnational fiscal management: the USA experience