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
Five Lessons on Strengthening Social Protection from Three Years of Research at the IDB’s Research Department
The events of the past three years have put low- and middle-income countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in a bind. They need to ensure that their citizens can recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But they also need to do it in the most cost-effective way so that public coffers are not drained. With this dilemma in mind, IDB researchers and … [Read more...] about Five Lessons on Strengthening Social Protection from Three Years of Research at the IDB’s Research Department
Can Cash Transfers to Non-Poor Households Prevent Poverty?
Over the past five years, social protection has expanded dramatically around the world. In 2020, one in six people globally received government transfers. This expansion in coverage, particularly in upper- and middle-income countries, has produced a new set of beneficiaries: vulnerable, non-poor households. Scaling up the coverage of social protection programs has the … [Read more...] about Can Cash Transfers to Non-Poor Households Prevent Poverty?
Achieving Climate Change Goals Means Redirecting 7 to 19% of GDP Worth of Spending Decisions
The case for immediate climate action could not be more stark. Global temperatures have already risen by 1.1°C and over 3 billion people are highly vulnerable to the effects of a warming planet, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We need to immediately adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. We also have to limit warming as close to 1.5°C … [Read more...] about Achieving Climate Change Goals Means Redirecting 7 to 19% of GDP Worth of Spending Decisions
The Unequal Effects of Air Pollution on Health and Income in Mexico City
Perched 7,300 feet above sea level in a valley wrapped round by mountains and volcanoes, Mexico City has long suffered from thick layers of smog produced by cars, factories, and wildfires. Among the worst hazards of that air pollution for its 21 million inhabitants is PM 2.5, inhalable fine particulate matter. People exposed to PM 2.5 can suffer from coughing, shortness of … [Read more...] about The Unequal Effects of Air Pollution on Health and Income in Mexico City