In the wake of its banking and economic crisis of 2002, Uruguay took some bold steps. Unlike other countries that squandered the commodities boom of the subsequent years, delaying fiscal reforms and, in many cases, worsening their long-term fiscal stance, the country embarked on a series of integral reforms in virtually every policy area, from public management systems to … [Read more...] about Should Reform Tackle Rules and Institutions Together?
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The Skills Gap: Holding Latin America Back
From a certain optic, advances in education in Latin America and the Caribbean have been remarkable. In 1900, only one in three children attended primary school. Very few advanced to secondary school. Today, primary education in the region is nearly universal and enrollment in secondary school stands at nearly 80%. Unfortunately, those gains in access to education have not … [Read more...] about The Skills Gap: Holding Latin America Back
A Fresh Look at Policymaking in Latin America
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