Financial markets are in turmoil with the spread of COVID-19 and its consequences for the global economy. Emerging markets suffer particularly acutely in times of financial uncertainty, as global investment portfolios shift to safer asset classes. This means that the COVID-19 shock is creating a “sudden stop” in capital flows for emerging markets. The costs of sudden stops for … [Read more...] about Latin America has experienced sudden stops in the past. The coronavirus takes the challenge to a new level.
Big Data: New Opportunities and Challenges for Urban Research
Fifteen years ago, researchers were restricted to using surveys, censuses and basic administrative data when they examined cities and local policies. But those methods have real limitations. Surveys can be prohibitively expensive. Censuses may be out of date and administrative data often fail to represent the population as a whole. Today, we live in a radically different … [Read more...] about Big Data: New Opportunities and Challenges for Urban Research
How to Save Lives and Keep the Hospital System from Collapsing? A Prescription for Fighting the Coronavirus from the UK.
This week, researchers at Imperial College published an extremely important article. It presents an epidemiological model and evaluates interventions for reducing contact between people to slow the transmission of the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. The model, applied to the United Kingdom and to the United States, analyzes effects on the number of dead … [Read more...] about How to Save Lives and Keep the Hospital System from Collapsing? A Prescription for Fighting the Coronavirus from the UK.
A jump in social distancing in Latin America, according to Google search data
The coronavirus threatens to cast a shadow of death and illness wherever it goes. To fight it, experts recommend “social distancing”—that is, that people avoid interacting with each other and stay in their homes. The governments of Latin America are promoting social distancing using a variety of measures. But have they been successful? We looked at Google web search data for … [Read more...] about A jump in social distancing in Latin America, according to Google search data
Young Researchers Wanted for Prestigious Fellowship
The Research Department of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) invites talented young professionals to apply to its Research Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C. The fellowship, open to candidates with an undergraduate degree in economics, public policy, or a related field, and a strong quantitative background, provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with … [Read more...] about Young Researchers Wanted for Prestigious Fellowship