The Covid-19 pandemic sweeping the globe will likely have a deep impact on many developing countries, hitting their economies even harder than those of advanced countries. Its toll, however, is likely to extend far beyond the economy. Developing countries, like those in Latin America and the Caribbean, apart from weaker economies, also have more fragile democracies. The crisis … [Read more...] about Covid-19: Threats and Opportunities for Democracy
Human Mobility Map Shows that People Are Observing Social Distancing
In recent weeks, the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean have implemented a battery of measures to encourage social distancing and reduce the infection rate of the coronavirus. Although it is clear that human mobility has indeed dropped significantly, important questions persist. How much has mobility declined in the region? In what countries has it dropped the … [Read more...] about Human Mobility Map Shows that People Are Observing Social Distancing
Pandemic and Prisons: What Are the Challenges for Latin American Governments?
The COVID-19 crisis has impacted most aspects of social life in an unprecedented manner. And while the situation is nothing short of dramatic for the average person, the effects of the pandemic are felt far more acutely in prisons across Latin America and the Caribbean. More than 1.2 million people live behind bars in the region, most in overcrowded penitentiaries where poor … [Read more...] about Pandemic and Prisons: What Are the Challenges for Latin American Governments?
Negative Oil: What Is behind the Negative Oil Price?
“Oil is at a negative price, -US$37 a barrel.” Those were the headlines on April 20. A negative price for oil? That makes no sense many friends told me. To understand this, let’s take a few steps back. There are two standard prices for the global oil market. In the United States, a futures market on a blend known as WTI (or West Texas Intermediate) is an important reference … [Read more...] about Negative Oil: What Is behind the Negative Oil Price?
What Can Central Banks Do to Mitigate the Effects of the Coronavirus?
The unprecedented conditions created by the spread of the coronavirus call for exceptional policy responses from the regional monetary authorities. Besides traditional tools such as interest rate reductions, central banks have been pursuing unconventional measures to avoid permanent consequences from a transitory, but potentially severe, negative shock. Since the 2008 global … [Read more...] about What Can Central Banks Do to Mitigate the Effects of the Coronavirus?