Pandemics, while devastating for populations at large, deliver a disproportionate impact when they sweep through the dense informal settlements of developing countries with their narrow alleyways and broken dwellings. Death rates, high everywhere, soared through such places during the COVID-19 crisis. Until recently, however, no research had been conducted on the role of … [Read more...] about Policy Options for Combating Pandemics in Informal Settlements
The Challenges of Being a Single Mother in Latin America and the Caribbean
Single mothers may face significant economic handicaps, an issue of particular concern in Latin America and the Caribbean where 11% of households are headed by a single parent—the highest rate of any region in the world—and most of those households are led by single mothers. This already large share almost triples when taking into account mothers without a partner who live with … [Read more...] about The Challenges of Being a Single Mother in Latin America and the Caribbean
Can Latin America and the Caribbean Unlock AI’s Potential While Mitigating Its Perils?
This article is the first in a series dedicated to exploring the opportunities and risks of AI for Latin America and the Caribbean Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a disruptive force that promises to reshape economies across the globe. With its ability to process vast amounts of data, learn from patterns, and make intelligent decisions, AI holds immense potential … [Read more...] about Can Latin America and the Caribbean Unlock AI’s Potential While Mitigating Its Perils?
How Bank Robberies Stoke Financial Digitalization in Brazil
The bank robberies sweeping the small towns of Brazil are swift and destructive. Teams of ten people or more from sophisticated crime syndicates hit a bank in the middle of the night, blowing open its vaults, seizing its cash, and destroying the rest of its physical infrastructure with explosives. By the time local inhabitants have risen, the criminals are long gone. The … [Read more...] about How Bank Robberies Stoke Financial Digitalization in Brazil
Confronting the Economic Effects of Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean
Searing temperatures; rising sea levels. Rainfall, drought, and hurricanes that grow more threatening and intense. With the last seven years registering the hottest temperatures in recorded history, Latin America and the Caribbean not only faces the direct effects of climate change. It confronts a host of indirect economic effects potentially made worse by development … [Read more...] about Confronting the Economic Effects of Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean