People with disabilities represent about 15% of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean, or around 88 million people (as of 2020), and are expected to grow in numbers to 150 million by mid-century. But there are numerous areas of life where this large group of people has not been sufficiently included and, as a result, are unable to maximize their potential or fully … [Read more...] about Sowing the Seeds of Inclusion for People with Disabilities
How Behavioral Economics Boosted Tax Compliance in the Dominican Republic
In the world of tax collection, even small improvements in compliance can have massive financial implications for governments and societies. A recent study, "The $100 Million Nudge," demonstrates how a simple intervention, rooted in behavioral economics, significantly increased tax compliance among firms, resulting in a dramatic boost to public revenue. Tax compliance has … [Read more...] about How Behavioral Economics Boosted Tax Compliance in the Dominican Republic
The Hidden Costs of Non-Tariff Barriers
Since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the conclusion of the 1994 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), countries around the world have steadily reduced their import tariffs, which fell from a global average of 8.6% in 1994 to just 2.6% in 2017. At the same time, non-tariff barriers (NTBs), including import licenses, quotas and technical … [Read more...] about The Hidden Costs of Non-Tariff Barriers
Can Improving Market Access Spur Small Business Growth and Jobs in Latin America?
While micro and small firms account for a big share of overall employment in Latin America and the Caribbean, they often struggle to grow in part because they lack skills or encounter other difficulties in selling their goods and services to buyers. This limits the size of markets they can access. For example, data from the World Enterprise Surveys shows that only 6.7% of … [Read more...] about Can Improving Market Access Spur Small Business Growth and Jobs in Latin America?
How Inequality is Inherited in Latin America and the Caribbean
Despite meaningful progress in the first two decades of this century, Latin America and the Caribbean remains one of the world’s most unequal regions, with gaping disparities in income that most analysts agree puts it in the position of competing with sub-Saharan Africa—with its outliers like Namibia and South Africa—for the unenviable title of the world's most unequal region. … [Read more...] about How Inequality is Inherited in Latin America and the Caribbean