Social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp are becoming primary channels of political engagement in Latin America. Throughout the region’s democracies, large majorities of adults now report receiving or sharing political information on social networks. Ten years ago, only a tenth did so. The dramatic growth in social media’s political relevance cannot be overemphasized. … [Read more...] about Is Social Media Remaking Latin American Elections?
FINLAC: A New Initiative on Financial Inclusion to Boost Economic Recovery and Transform Lives
The COVID-19 pandemic has battered Latin American and Caribbean economies. Due to its large informal sectors, weak health systems, and fiscal restrictions, the region’s economy has been hit harder than any other declining by 7% last year—the largest GDP contraction since 1821. But unlike previous crises, where problems originated or were exacerbated in the financial sector, … [Read more...] about FINLAC: A New Initiative on Financial Inclusion to Boost Economic Recovery and Transform Lives
Inflation and Its Impact on the Poor in the Era of COVID-19
Inflation has become a growing concern for central banks in Latin America and the Caribbean. The recovery in economic activity was stronger than expected in the first months of 2021, reflecting the stimulus that governments deployed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and higher mobility and lower containment measures. However, inflation and inflation expectations in the … [Read more...] about Inflation and Its Impact on the Poor in the Era of COVID-19
Testing the Impact of Social Media on Trust
Trust and a sense of citizenship are the pillars of thriving democracies. They are essential to the willingness of citizens to make individual sacrifices in pursuit of collective endeavors that drive a society’s success. Unfortunately, that trust and sense of citizenship have been at historical lows worldwide recently and have been declining even more rapidly in Latin America … [Read more...] about Testing the Impact of Social Media on Trust
Estimating the Potential Economic Impact of Haiti’s 2021 Earthquake
On August 14, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, gravely affecting the Departments of Sud, Grand'Anse, and Nippes. More than 2,200 people were killed, and houses, healthcare facilities and schools were destroyed. Rescue and relief responses were hampered by blocked roads, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the same area the very next day and subsequent aftershocks. … [Read more...] about Estimating the Potential Economic Impact of Haiti’s 2021 Earthquake