In recent years, developing countries have struggled to make social welfare programs for the poor and vulnerable more efficient. The distribution of preventative health products is an important example. Such products can help the poor stave off malnutrition and disease and improve overall productivity. But they have traditionally been distributed using subsidized pricing, and … [Read more...] about Can New Methods Sharpen Targeting in Programs for the Poor?
Social Issues
Is Being ‘Smart’ About Taxes Contagious?
In recent weeks, the issue of tax avoidance has surged into the United States presidential election. It gained momentum Sept. 26 during the first presidential debate when Republican candidate Donald Trump said that not paying federal income taxes made him “smart.” It moved to the forefront Oct. 1 with the revelation by the New York Times that Trump had declared a $916 million … [Read more...] about Is Being ‘Smart’ About Taxes Contagious?
Colombia: Bringing Fighters Back Into the Fold?
On Oct. 7, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos became the sixth Latin American to win the Nobel Peace Prize as he was recognized for his efforts to end a 52-year-long civil conflict, the last major war in the Americas. But for supporters of Colombia’s peace process, it was a bittersweet moment. Eleven days earlier, the president had clasped hands with his sworn enemy, … [Read more...] about Colombia: Bringing Fighters Back Into the Fold?
Latin America’s Macroeconomic Update: Looking Up
At the end of the third quarter, the growth forecast for Latin America and the Caribbean was an estimated -0.6% for 2016. For the first time since 1982-83, the region is expected to post two consecutive years of negative growth. However, looking beyond the numbers there is some good news in this latest report. To begin with, things looked considerably worse earlier in the … [Read more...] about Latin America’s Macroeconomic Update: Looking Up
Fighting Zika: The Need for Sustained But Flexible Messaging
Over the last year, newspapers and television stations in the Americas have reported hundreds of stories about the Zika epidemic. The media is flooded with news accounts of people suffering from temporary paralysis, infants with brain damage, and the fears the virus has unleashed, especially among pregnant women. Yet despite these accounts—and thousands of warnings by … [Read more...] about Fighting Zika: The Need for Sustained But Flexible Messaging