Part of our "behind the scenes" series of posts for our 2020 flagship publication From Structures to Services: The Path to Better Infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean Recent news items indicate that in 2020, Chile is experiencing one of the most significant droughts in its history; the province of Córdoba, one of Argentina’s most productive agricultural areas, … [Read more...] about The False Choice of Renewable Energy
Microeconomics and Competitiveness
Not the Usual Recession: Why Inequality after Covid-19 May Get a Lot Worse
It is tempting to view the severe economic downturn of the Covid-19 pandemic through the same lens as other recessions that have struck Latin American and the Caribbean over the last three decades. Most of those previous events, after all, led to increases in poverty and unemployment, much as the current crisis has done. But when it comes to inequality, one of the region's most … [Read more...] about Not the Usual Recession: Why Inequality after Covid-19 May Get a Lot Worse
Digitizing Infrastructure Services Brings More Inclusive Growth
Part of our "behind the scenes" series of posts for our 2020 flagship publication From Structures to Services: The Path to Better Infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean By their very nature, disruptive technological changes are difficult to predict. However, there is a consensus that the efficiency gains linked to increased digitalization of infrastructure … [Read more...] about Digitizing Infrastructure Services Brings More Inclusive Growth
Understanding Social Unrest in Latin America
The last quarter of 2019 shocked Latin America with massive demonstrations on the streets of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and other countries. Protesters had many demands, but there was a common theme: equal treatment, better opportunities for all, and a more level playing field. Why did these perfectly valid demands erupt like a volcano after two decades of progress and a … [Read more...] about Understanding Social Unrest in Latin America
Financial Literacy in the Caribbean: The Case of Barbados
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed households’ financial fragility. Prior to the pandemic, six out of ten people in Latin America and the Caribbean reported they lack the resources to cover an emergency, and among the poorest quintile, the figure was only two out of ten. As in the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19 has revealed the need to advance a policy agenda aimed at … [Read more...] about Financial Literacy in the Caribbean: The Case of Barbados