Teaching is one of the most important professions, vital to a nation's long-term dynamism and productivity. But it is simply too hard to get all but the most dedicated teachers to commit to long-term careers, when, as in Chile and the United States, they make two-thirds of what people of a similar educational background earn. That is the dilemma Chile tried to confront in 2002 … [Read more...] about Keeping the Best Teachers: Is Money the Answer?
Mexico: Growth of a Multi-Party System
By Mauricio Báez and Katherine Poole For 71 years, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) held sway over virtually every aspect of Mexican life. It was, in the words of writer and Nobel Laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, "the perfect dictatorship.” But Mexico has undergone a dramatic evolution. Since 2000, the PRI has alternated in power with the right wing National Action … [Read more...] about Mexico: Growth of a Multi-Party System
Sports can transform lives if we do it right
Soccer fans throughout Latin America will be glued to their televisions in June and July, basking in the excitement and pride that come with belonging to a region famed for its brilliance at the World Cup. But it's not just about elite athletes. Since at least the days of the ancient Greeks, societies have understood that sports can make citizens healthier and happier. They … [Read more...] about Sports can transform lives if we do it right
Do Term Limits Benefit Voters?
When allies of President Horacio Cartes tried to force an amendment through Paraguay's congress last year to allow him to run for a second term, rioters took to the streets and set fire to Congress, illustrating in particularly dramatic fashion the sharp divisions around term limits. Cartes eventually decided not to run again, but he may have been the exception. In recent … [Read more...] about Do Term Limits Benefit Voters?
Facing Climate Change’s Threat to Caribbean Tourism
When residents of the Caribbean think of hurricanes, like Irma and Maria that whipped through the region last fall, they think not only of the loss of hundreds of human lives and homes, but of the widespread destruction of tourism assets like hotels, yachts and coral reefs. And they fear that the devastation is just a preview of what is to come. Tourism is the lifeblood of the … [Read more...] about Facing Climate Change’s Threat to Caribbean Tourism