In Central America's Northern Triangle—Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador—educational institutions face a crisis of in-school and out-of-school violence and dropout rates 22% above the average for the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean. This crisis—often gang-related—jeopardizes not only the safety of students, but their long-term mental health and economic … [Read more...] about Harnessing Emotional Intelligence: A New Frontier in Combating School Violence
Social Issues
The Economic Impacts of Climate Change and El Niño in the Andes
As climate change continues its persistent advance, its main effects, such as higher temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns, are becoming increasingly frequent and clear. One such effect is the El Niño Phenomenon (ENP), an anomalous warming of the surface waters of the Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean, which, in turn, modifies the climatic conditions for South American … [Read more...] about The Economic Impacts of Climate Change and El Niño in the Andes
Wielding Better Information and Policies to Curb the Prison Crisis in Latin America
The recent revolts, escapes and killings in Latin American prisons seem all too familiar in a region with an incarceration rate twice that of the European Union and some of the highest homicide rates in the world. But an article in the New York Times describing the wholesale takeover of prison systems by criminal groups has brought broader attention to a regional crisis in … [Read more...] about Wielding Better Information and Policies to Curb the Prison Crisis in Latin America
Can Digital Payments Boost the Impact of Social Programs?
With tens of millions of citizens receiving cash transfers from social programs each month, Latin America and Caribbean governments have long sought ways to improve payment delivery and boost financial inclusion to improve savings, access to credit, and overall welfare. One attempted solution is encouraging recipients to open bank accounts to receive digital cash transfer … [Read more...] about Can Digital Payments Boost the Impact of Social Programs?
Do Disability Employment Quotas Work?
People with disabilities (PwD) continue to face barriers to employment worldwide, with large gaps in employment between those with disabilities and those without. In Latin America and the Caribbean, for example, 24-35 year-old men with disabilities have a 24% lower employment rate than their non-disabled counterparts, and there’s a 12% disparity for similarly aged women. This … [Read more...] about Do Disability Employment Quotas Work?