In the early 1800s, the Prussian scientist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt wandered the streets of Latin America and wrote of his astonishment at the misery and wealth; the "nakedness" and the “luxury", the "immense inequality of fortune." Today, that image of inequality endures. The region, along with Sub-Saharan Africa, is the most unequal in the world. But things are … [Read more...] about Latin America: The Story Behind Falling Inequality
Social Issues
Guatemala: The Crisis of Rule of Law and a Weak Party System
In mid-2015, tens of thousands of ordinary Guatemalans poured into the streets to protest against a multimillion-dollar corruption scheme at the highest levels of government and demand reform. By September, key ministers and advisers had been fired. The nation's president sat in jail. But today, two years after that euphoric demonstration of people power, little has changed in … [Read more...] about Guatemala: The Crisis of Rule of Law and a Weak Party System
Inequality and the Parent-Child Relationship
From the first words that parents exchange with their children to the games they play, the intellectual and emotional stimulation parents provide is critical. Especially in the early years, sustained and effective parenting can lead to greater intelligence, sociability and mental health. Thus the shock in the mid-1990s when researchers in the United States found that by age … [Read more...] about Inequality and the Parent-Child Relationship
The FinTech Boom: China vs Latin America
Over the last five years, a new wave of upstarts has burst the confines of traditional finance. These are far from the hallowed institutions of classical pillars and marble. Rather they are children of Silicon Valley, exploiting the latest in digital technologies to offer everything from online shopping and payments to lending and wealth management. Known collectively as … [Read more...] about The FinTech Boom: China vs Latin America
Behavioral Economics and the Messaging That Works
"Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes," said the United States' Benjamin Franklin. And few things are less pleasurably anticipated. But at least when it comes to taxes, the avoidance can make running a government especially hard. Behavioral economics, with its psychological insights into how information can be used to change citizens’ beliefs and … [Read more...] about Behavioral Economics and the Messaging That Works