Latin America and the Caribbean has faced several consecutive crises, from COVID to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that have weakened countries' ability to provide their citizens goods and services and underscored the need to increase rates. Budgets are tight and capital spending meager, and the region can’t afford rates of evasion for personal and corporate income taxes … [Read more...] about Nudging to Get Citizens to Pay Their Taxes and Improve the Delivery of Public Goods
#inequality
Montesquieu’s Mistake, or Why Inequality Doesn’t Have to Be Part of the Latin American DNA
It is often noted that Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws is the book that sets forth the concept of branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Through his influence on the French liberals, Montesquieu is one of the key figures of the 1789 French Revolution, whose cry was “Freedom, Equality, Fraternity.” There is, however, another central part of The Spirit … [Read more...] about Montesquieu’s Mistake, or Why Inequality Doesn’t Have to Be Part of the Latin American DNA
How Perceptions of Inequality Affect Trust in Latin America and the Caribbean
Lack of trust between individuals and between individuals and institutions is a chronic problem in Latin America and Caribbean and often linked to inequality. After all, in a region that ranks among the most unequal in the world, it is natural to distrust political elites who seem to coopt government and ensure that policies favor the wealthy over the poor. Moreover, when … [Read more...] about How Perceptions of Inequality Affect Trust in Latin America and the Caribbean
How Climate Change Worsens Poverty and Inequality
Over the coming decades, climate change and natural disasters have the potential to undo much of the progress made in lifting households out of poverty over prior decades. By one estimate, climate change could push 100 million people across the globe into poverty within the next 10 years. By the end of the century, the ratio of GDP per capita … [Read more...] about How Climate Change Worsens Poverty and Inequality
How Residential Segregation Fuels Inequality, and What Can Be Done about It
The widespread inequalities of economic opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean are a major concern for policymakers throughout the region. These inequalities are, in no small part, spatial. Where you live and where you work matters—often substantially—for your opportunities in life. Research is rapidly improving our understanding of … [Read more...] about How Residential Segregation Fuels Inequality, and What Can Be Done about It