During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments in Latin America and the Caribbean spent generously to support families, firms and banks, helping to ease the economic pain but also pushing public debt well above historic levels. Those levels of debt, which stood at 72% of GDP across the region in 2020, create substantial strain on countries in the region. Some see their currency … [Read more...] about Fiscal Fatigue in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Growing Threat
Maria Jose Gonzalez Jaramillo
María José González Jaramillo is a research assistant in the Research Department of the Inter-American Development Bank. Her work focuses on optimal taxation, occupational choice and informality. She also has worked in other macroeconomics topics, such as sudden stops, fiscal policy, and debt. María José holds a master's and a bachelor's degree in economics from the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia.
The Impact of War on External Financing in Latin America and the Caribbean
Since March of 2022, the war between Russia and Ukraine has significantly impacted the global economy, affecting recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and reducing or halting growth in most of the world's regions. By disrupting the supply of agricultural and energy commodities, it has also fuelled inflation, which was already running hot before the war broke out. Latin … [Read more...] about The Impact of War on External Financing in Latin America and the Caribbean
Why Chileans Brought Money Home While Colombians Sent It Abroad in 2020
Chile and Colombia are two of the most solid economies in Latin America and the Caribbean. While in 2020 they contracted 5.8% and 6.8%, respectively, they were among the strongest performers in the region amid difficult circumstances. Both are open market economies, with flexible exchange rates and access to foreign markets. They also have faced social unrest and protest … [Read more...] about Why Chileans Brought Money Home While Colombians Sent It Abroad in 2020
Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean suffers from low productivity. The slow growth in productivity per worker in the region has weakened its economies and made countries unable to satisfy the burgeoning needs and demands of their citizens. The Covid-19 pandemic has only highlighted this chronic problem, revealing a significant technological gap between the region and the advanced … [Read more...] about Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean