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
Macroeconomics and Finance
Avoiding Economic Long-COVID: Policies to Support Firms and Workers in Latin America and the Caribbean
During the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, governments in Latin America and the Caribbean aided firms and households with support packages coordinated with central bank monetary policy. For many, liquidity injections and flexible financial sector supervision helped ease the pain. While many small firms closed their doors during the crisis, surprisingly few larger … [Read more...] about Avoiding Economic Long-COVID: Policies to Support Firms and Workers in Latin America and the Caribbean
Lessons from the Lost Decade for Confronting Inflation Today
Inflation in Latin America is currently running at its highest level in 15 years. With uncertainty about how it will unfold, the expectations of people and firms are largely de-anchored, meaning distinct from the central banks’ target levels, and thus a potential source of even greater inflation. Meanwhile, as world interest rates rise, countries in the region are finding it … [Read more...] about Lessons from the Lost Decade for Confronting Inflation Today
Is There a Future for Digital Currencies Issued by Central Banks in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Boosting financial inclusion has long been essential in Latin America and the Caribbean, where more than 200 million people lack access to financial services and large numbers of citizens are unable to open a bank account because of poverty, geography, discrimination, and lack of proper identification. Alternative systems, however, could be transformative. They could be … [Read more...] about Is There a Future for Digital Currencies Issued by Central Banks in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Tackling Informality for Fiscal Health in the Post-Pandemic Period
After significant efforts by Latin American and Caribbean governments to shore up businesses and households during the COVID-19 pandemic, the region in 2021 had a very high average fiscal deficit of 5% of GDP, more than two percentage points higher than before the pandemic. It also had a soaring average debt ratio of 70% of GDP. The IDB’s recently released 2022 Latin … [Read more...] about Tackling Informality for Fiscal Health in the Post-Pandemic Period