Thomas Prehn is a former head of MindLab, an innovation lab established by the Danish government in 2002 to spur creativity and cultural change within government ministries and improve their delivery of public services. Working in numerous policy areas, including education and employment, MindLab became a pioneer in its work both on specific projects and its efforts to make … [Read more...] about Scaling up Behavioral Interventions to Continually Changing Societies
Can Government Commitments Win Back Citizens' Trust in Latin America?
Trust is rare in Latin America, and only getting rarer. Economic and financial mismanagement, corruption scandals, and inequality have taken their toll. According to Latinóbarometro, an annual public opinion survey of 18 countries from the region, trust in government dropped from 45% in 2009 to 22% in 2018, and the share of people who are discontent with democracy soared from … [Read more...] about Can Government Commitments Win Back Citizens’ Trust in Latin America?
Young Researchers Invited to Apply for Prestigious Fellowship
The Research Department of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) invites recent university graduates and young professionals to apply to its Research Fellowship Program. Research fellows collaborate closely with a group of economists, providing support and helping generate new ideas to further the Bank's mission of promoting sustainable and equitable development in Latin … [Read more...] about Young Researchers Invited to Apply for Prestigious Fellowship
Central America and the Dominican Republic: Internal Strengths to Face External Challenges
The economies of Central America and the Dominican Republic (CADR) have been facing significant challenges that are not limited simply to fiscal issues. We trust that the region will improve its resilience to these challenges by consolidating its economic fundamentals, continuing to push for regional integration, and strengthening its institutions. All of this will contribute … [Read more...] about Central America and the Dominican Republic: Internal Strengths to Face External Challenges
When Focusing on the Interest Rate is Not Enough
Before the financial crisis of 2008, most governments lacked an institutional framework for handling financial policy. Central banks focused on monetary policy. They mostly used interest rates to influence inflation and output, believing such a focus could guarantee economic stability. But when it came to financial policy they were inclined to trust the invisible hand of the … [Read more...] about When Focusing on the Interest Rate is Not Enough