The history of health and education over the last half century is a tale of two sectors, one vastly more dynamic and successful than the other. On the bright side, Latin America — and much of the world — has made immense progress in eradicating diseases that caused death, deformities and suffering, like smallpox and polio. Advances in primary health care, including … [Read more...] about Health vs. Education: A Tale of Two Sectors
A Sharp New Light on Political Institutions
How competitive are presidential and legislative elections in Bolivia, France and Afghanistan? What are their electoral rules? How relevant are their political checks and balances across branches of government? In the past, scholars and analysts floundered in the dark trying to answer those questions. They might consult case studies. But the frameworks and methodologies were … [Read more...] about A Sharp New Light on Political Institutions
Can Women Break the Glass Ceiling in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Over the last 20 years, Latin Amerand the Caribbean has made large strides to close the gender gap in education and employment. Since the early 1990s, more women than men in the region have been enrolled in school at the secondary and tertiary levels. And today women make up more than 40% of the region's labor force despite the stereotypes that make those gains … [Read more...] about Can Women Break the Glass Ceiling in Latin America and the Caribbean?
MDBs: Constraining Times
By Myriam Escobar and Andrew Powell In July 2015, Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) committed to extend more than $400 billion in financing to developing countries over the next three years for longer term development aims. They also agreed to work more closely with private and public sector partners to mobilize the … [Read more...] about MDBs: Constraining Times
The Hidden Traumas of Natural Disasters
On May 31, 1970, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale rifled across the regions of Ancash and La Libertad in northern Peru, collapsing roads, homes and schools and unleashing an avalanche that buried the town of Yungay in a mass of rock and ice. More than 66,000 people were killed, more than 100,000 were injured, and hundreds of thousands more were left homeless. … [Read more...] about The Hidden Traumas of Natural Disasters