Economies grew, millions were lifted from poverty, and social safety nets widened to support a growing share of vulnerable populations. When the United States and Europe experienced sharp downturns during the international financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, some governments in the region were able to increase spending and keep their own economies from slipping into … [Read more...] about Because Waiting for the Next Boom is Not Enough
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Riding the Commodities Roller Coaster in Latin America
Commodity booms and busts are nearly as old as the discovery in Latin America of copper, coal and oil. But after the exhilarating rise of commodity prices during 2004-2012, the most recent descent, with its painful manifestations of contracting economies, fiscal deficits, currency depreciations and inflation, has struck the region particularly hard. But how hard? And why? A … [Read more...] about Riding the Commodities Roller Coaster in Latin America
Adjusting to Shocks to Protect the Region’s Future
Commodity prices are falling or are at their lowest point in years. The demographic boom is fading. Debts are on the rise, and many currencies have undergone sharp depreciations. What does all this mean for Latin America and the Caribbean? Our 2016 Macroeconomic Report Time to Act looks at some of the critical issues facing countries in the region. It explores the fiscal … [Read more...] about Adjusting to Shocks to Protect the Region’s Future
Jumping to Higher Productivity and Income
How should Latin American countries invest in capabilities to boost their per capita incomes? Research at the IDB suggests that much of the gap in income per-capita levels between Latin American countries and the United States is due not to the amount of capital accumulated. Rather it is a result of drops in the region's productivity levels vis-à-vis the U.S. The trick is … [Read more...] about Jumping to Higher Productivity and Income
Seating Business and Government at the Table
Businesspeople seek as much as influence as possible over their government's productive development policies. From many points of view, this makes sense. Company executives experience firsthand the structural problems that prevent them from serving their clients better, accessing new markets and increasing productivity. They know where the information asymmetries lie. If they … [Read more...] about Seating Business and Government at the Table