In the early 2000s, the Research Department of the IDB embarked on a deep exploration of policymaking in Latin America. What made countries in the region veer from state-controlled to market-centered policies? Why did they fail to reach their development goals and why did international aid assistance often come up short in helping them? The answer to those questions lay in the … [Read more...] about A Fresh Look at Policymaking in Latin America
Taking a Micro Approach to Crime
It should not be surprising that crime is usually at its most intense in cities. Populations and economic activity are most concentrated there and criminals there enjoy the most profitable targets. But with 43 of the world’s 50 most murderous cities and urban crime on the increase, Latin America and the Caribbean is an extreme case and in desperate need of better tools to fight … [Read more...] about Taking a Micro Approach to Crime
When the Scientific Method Goes to School
Ask any parent in Latin America or the Caribbean what they most want for their kids, and you're very likely to hear it summed up in one word: education. Parents know that learning can bring their children satisfaction, success and prosperity, and they've opened their wallets, spending a higher share of their household budget on schooling than in the United States. Governments … [Read more...] about When the Scientific Method Goes to School
Big Data and the Pursuit of Better Disaster Relief
As Hurricane Irma ripped through the Caribbean and the United States, leveling homes, crippling energy and water systems, and putting ports and airports out of commission, government officials looked ahead to the immense relief challenges that lay in store. First, they had to take stock: What sectors of the economy were most devastated? And where should relief aid go to satisfy … [Read more...] about Big Data and the Pursuit of Better Disaster Relief
Bracing for Impact: Preparing Nations for Natural Disasters
The lashing rains and 185-mile-per-hour winds pounding the Caribbean from Hurricane Irma; the toppled homes and flooded streets in Texas and Louisiana from Hurricane Harvey, with its tens of thousands of people made homeless and billions of dollars in property losses: it's hard to imagine things getting much worse. Unfortunately, they almost surely will. If scientists agree … [Read more...] about Bracing for Impact: Preparing Nations for Natural Disasters