Central banks in Latin America and the Caribbean have undoubtedly been part of the solution to our current crisis. Their prompt and effective reactions were made possible by the hard-won credibility that they gained in recent years. Behind those gains is the autonomy delegated to them to formulate and implement monetary policy to achieve their primary objective of maintaining … [Read more...] about A Critical Moment for Central Bank Autonomy
The New GDLab Takes on Discrimination and Inequality
Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the most unequal regions of the world, with the richest 10% of the population earning 22 times more than the poorest 10%. Inequalities in the region stem in part from cultural origin, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation and are deeply rooted in history and social norms. While poverty-reduction policies that target income … [Read more...] about The New GDLab Takes on Discrimination and Inequality
How the Fall in Remittances During the Pandemic Threatens Regional Wellbeing
Remittances, transfers from expatriate workers to family and friends in their home countries, are a driving force in the reduction of poverty, greater financial inclusion and economic growth. They are especially critical to many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. But as Covid-19 delivers devastation to much of the global economy, with GDP forecasts for 2020 … [Read more...] about How the Fall in Remittances During the Pandemic Threatens Regional Wellbeing
How Gender Discrimination Stops Women from Getting Loans
It is no secret that in Latin America and the Caribbean, as in much of the world, women are less likely to be paid an equal wage or to be approved for a loan. This is shameful in and of itself. But it is difficult to know how much of the discrimination is due to structural factors and how much is simply a product of outright prejudice in male-dominated societies. In a recent … [Read more...] about How Gender Discrimination Stops Women from Getting Loans
Investing to Create Better Societies Without Sacrificing Returns
For a long time, investors eager to use their money to improve the world through socially and environmentally conscious investments worried that they would be sacrificing returns in the process. No longer. Investing that takes into account environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors often equals or even outperforms investments that ignore these factors. Today … [Read more...] about Investing to Create Better Societies Without Sacrificing Returns