Razvan Vlaicu

As Latin America registers more than 5.5 million infections and more than 220,000 deaths from Covid-19 in mid-August – currently highest among the regions of world – it becomes important to ask why lockdowns there haven’t been more effective. After all, mobility restrictions have exacted a heavy economic toll, hurting businesses, eliminating jobs, and aggravating poverty and … [Read more...] about Have Lockdowns Been Effective in Latin America?

Daniel Delgado used to have a straightforward bus commute. But with Lima under lockdown due to COVID-19 and infection rates high on public transport, the bus he usually took seemed too risky and slow. As a “guachimán” (security guard) in a building in the San Isidro neighborhood, Daniel had to find an alternative. Working with the building manager, he obtained a $300 … [Read more...] about Boosting Urban Mobility in Latin America during COVID-19 Lockdowns

With the coronavirus pandemic threatening lives and well-being, most governments in Latin America and the Caribbean have imposed strict limits on social interactions to better manage the contagion. After two months under lockdown, however, the toll on the region’s economies is apparent. Nearly half of households report job losses and most businesses have either closed down or … [Read more...] about Prospering After the Lockdown: A Matter of Trust

The Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the globe will likely have a deep impact on many developing countries, hitting their economies even harder than those of advanced countries. Its toll, however, is likely to extend far beyond the economy. Developing countries, like those in Latin America and the Caribbean, apart from weaker economies, also have more fragile democracies. The crisis … [Read more...] about Covid-19: Threats and Opportunities for Democracy