International trade is often hailed as a driver of economic growth and consumer welfare. Yet, despite its economy-wide benefits, it remains divisive and politically contentious - especially when it comes to employment. Part of this dynamic has to do with the fact that trade helps firms which are export-oriented but hurts firms that compete with imports. Given that people are … [Read more...] about How Employment Narratives Shape Public Support for Trade
Ernesto Stein
Ernesto Stein is Distinguished University Professor of Public Policy - School of Government and Public Transformation, Tecnologico de Monterrey. He was the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) representative in Mexico, where he guided all the activities of the IDB Group (public and private side) in the country with a focus on reducing regional gaps and fostering economic development. With a career spanning almost 30 years at the IDB, Ernesto Stein has served different roles, including principal economist at the Research Department and regional economic advisor for Central America, Mexico, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. He has also been a Growth Fellow at Harvard University’s Center for International Development. His research primarily focuses on international trade and integration, foreign direct investment, productive development policies, institutional economics, and political economy. He has authored or edited over 12 books and contributed to more than 40 articles in edited volumes and refereed journals such as the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Development Economics, Economic Policy, Economics and Politics, and the American Economic Review (papers and proceedings), among others.
The Promise of Modern Agriculture for Faster and More Inclusive Growth
The path from agriculture to manufacturing and other high-productivity sectors was long considered the true way to structural transformation and development. By contrast, agriculture was viewed as a technologically backwards sector, with minimal innovation and little capacity to grow national income. That view, however, no longer holds. While there is still plenty of … [Read more...] about The Promise of Modern Agriculture for Faster and More Inclusive Growth
Can Antibody Tests Help Save Millions of Doses of Vaccine?
In the middle of March, when the pandemic was still in its early phases in most countries, the director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, very clearly stated what would be the key element in the fight against the pandemic: “Test, test, test.” Almost a year later, with the impressive progress in developing vaccines against COVID-19, part of … [Read more...] about Can Antibody Tests Help Save Millions of Doses of Vaccine?
The Importance of Policies to Actively Seek Out COVID-19 Cases in Marginalized Neighborhoods
One notable characteristic of Covid-19 is that, outside China, it began by affecting the more prosperous segments of the population. In Latin America, the majority of people who were infected initially came from Europe and the United States. Argentina—and especially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires—was no exception. As of March 12, the city's 15 confirmed cases had come from … [Read more...] about The Importance of Policies to Actively Seek Out COVID-19 Cases in Marginalized Neighborhoods
Has the Pandemic Peaked in Latin American Countries?
For a recent report on ending lockdowns in Latin America, our colleagues here at the Inter-American Development Bank collected recommendations from different international organizations (including the World Health Organization and the European Commission), governments, and think tanks on how and when to begin reopening economies. Although there are important differences … [Read more...] about Has the Pandemic Peaked in Latin American Countries?