In 2014 the government of the small and impoverished city of Flint in the United States decided to draw its municipal water from a different river than it had been accustomed to while it waited to connect to a cheaper water system. But the new water was corrosive to water pipes, and environmental officials made a fateful decision not to add chemicals that would protect them. By … [Read more...] about Better Savings for Better Infrastructure
Social Issues
Crime Groups Destroy Economic Diversity
In 2008, a turf war erupted between the Tijuana and Sinaloa drug cartels, leaving tortured and murdered bodies strewn across the landscape near Mexico's border with the United States. As kidnapping surged and homicides surpassed 800 in Tijuana, souvenir and clothing shops shuttered, and restaurants and bars emptied out. The heart of the city—a former mecca for day-trippers and … [Read more...] about Crime Groups Destroy Economic Diversity
Running Out of Time
For decades, Latin America and the Caribbean has been a young region, with lots of people in the workforce compared to the number of elderly. But it is aging. By 2085, the region will surpass Europe as the area of the world with the highest share of elderly and, given current rates of savings, will have insufficient resources to pay for the immense health care, pension, and … [Read more...] about Running Out of Time
IDB Chief Economist Reflects on Region
The LinkedIn page of José Juan Ruiz, the IDB's chief economist, shows not a photo of himself but a drawing by the iconic Spanish cartoonist Andrés Rábago, alias El Roto, depicting an exhausted traveler and emigrant draped over his suitcase, deep in sleep. "The dreams of a nation produce exiles," says the caption over the weary man. It is a fitting observation for Ruiz, a … [Read more...] about IDB Chief Economist Reflects on Region
What the Educational Sector Can Learn from Business
The story of business in the advanced economies of the 21st century is one of explosive innovation and creativity. From artificial hearts and electric cars to cloud computing and iPhones, companies have sent forth a dazzling array of new products and processes that have helped increase shareholder value, boost productivity, and raise living standards. Education, by contrast, … [Read more...] about What the Educational Sector Can Learn from Business