bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental Assessment of The Program "One Laptop Per Child" in Peru
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This document presents a preliminary findings about "One Laptop per Child" program in Peru. On the one hand, were find evidence of better attitudes and expectations among teachers and parents; students that are more critical of school work and of their own performance; and a greater development of technological skills among girls and boys. On the other hand, there seems to be a decrease in the intensity of computer use in the classroom, as time passes and difficulties arise in the implementation of the project.
Ideas for Development in the Americas (IDEA): Volume 5 : September-December, 2004: The Balance on Banking in Latin America
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Bank credit is the main source of funding for firms and households in Latin America and the Caribbean Unfortunately, bank credit in the region is scarce, costly and extremely volatile. Given the importance of banking to growth and prosperity, the IDB focused its 2005 Economic and Social Progress Report on this sector. This latest edition of IDEA is based on that report, summarizing some of the major issues from Unlocking Credit: The Quest for Deep and Stable Bank Lending.
Ideas for Development in the Americas (IDEA): Volume 9 : January-April, 2006: Hidden in Plain Sight: Undocumented Citizens in Latin America
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Identity is an increasingly hot topic in today's world. Whether it's hunting for terrorists, searching for lost children, identifying casualties from the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, or naming bodies in mass graves, identity is the point of departure. Even the more mundane activities of life--driving a car, getting on an airplane, going to school--are predicated on proof of identity. In this light, the fact that millions of Latin Americans have no official identity is shocking indeed. This issue of IDEA explores some of the social and economic ramifications of having so many people living in the shadows.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 7 : No. 1 : July, 2004
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This issue of the Microenterprise Development Review examines the entry of Latin American village banking institutions into the mainstream. It also takes a look at a project involving remittances and microfinance that was a joint project of the IMI network entities in Latin America under the sponsorship of the Multilateral Investment Fund.
Our Voices, Our Images: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Presents an exhibition that celebrates and recognizes the abundance of extraordinary artistic talent in Washington, D.C. and its metropolitan area was open to the public on August 18, 2003 at the Art Gallery of the Inter-American Development Bank¿s Cultural Center. The exhibition was a initiative of the IDB Cultural Center and the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 20 : December, 2008
Authors: Pinzon Mauricio , Galindo Arturo
Published: March 2024

REVELA analyzes market expectations of growth and inflation in Latin American countries. The figures analyzed represent the results of surveys of private sector actors conducted by the central banks of each country according to their own specific methodologies. They do not represent official projections by the IDB or any other official body. RES collects the results of these surveys from participating central banks on a monthly basis to produce a report and a set of illustrative graphs and tables. In this December issue, REVELA reports that growth expectations for 2008 decreased with respect to last month's survey. Now the simple average expected growth rate is 5.22%. In the same way, growth is expected to slow in 2009, to an average of 3.12%, down from last month's 3.80% 2009 forecast. On the other hand, the expected inflation rate for 2008 decreased from 9.47% to 9.24%. Inflation expectations for 2009 decreased, reaching a simple average of 8.09%.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 21 : January, 2009
Authors: Pinzon Mauricio , Galindo Arturo
Published: March 2024

REVELA analyzes market expectations of growth and inflation in Latin American countries. The figures analyzed represent the results of surveys of private sector actors conducted by the central banks of each country according to their own specific methodologies. They do not represent official projections by the IDB or any other official body. RES collects the results of these surveys from participating central banks on a monthly basis to produce a report and a set of illustrative graphs and tables. In this January issue, REVELA reports that growth expectations for 2009 decreased with respect to last month's survey. Now the simple average expected growth rate is 2.97%. In the same way, growth is expected to slow in 2010, to an average of 3.54%, down from last month's 3.62% 2010 forecast. On the other hand, the expected inflation rate for 2009 decreased from 8.09% to 7.56%. The simple average of the expected inflation rate for 2010 is 5.96%.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 7 : November, 2007
Authors: Salazni Mariana , Powell Andrew
Published: March 2024

REVELA analyzes market expectations of growth and inflation in Latin America countries. The figures analyzed represent the results of surveys of private sector actors conducted by the central banks of the each country according to their own specific methodologies. They do not represent official projections by the IDB or any other official body. RES collects the results of these surveys from participating central banks on a monthly basis to produce a report and a set of illustrative graphs and tables. In this November issue, REVELA reports that while growth expectations for the US economy have declined for 2007 and 2008, those for Latin America have if anything increased. Growth expectations for 2007 rose in four countries, and for 2008 rose in two. Inflation expectations however continue to move up for most countries surveyed. In Guatemala inflation for 2007 is now expected to be 7.26%, higher than the previous 6.65%. The 2007 expected inflation rate has also increased in Paraguay and Peru The expected average rate of inflation for 2008 for the countries surveyed rose from 6.73% to 6.78%.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 9 : January, 2008
Authors: Salazni Mariana , Powell Andrew
Published: March 2024

REVELA analyzes market expectations of growth and inflation in Latin American countries. The figures analyzed represent the results of surveys of private sector actors conducted by the central banks of each country according to their own specific methodologies. They do not represent official projections by the IDB or any other official body. RES collects the results of these surveys from participating central banks on a monthly basis to produce a report and a set of illustrative graphs and tables. In this January issue, REVELA reports that growth expectations in Latin America for 2008 were stable or even increased, except in Chile. The average expected 2008 growth rate for the countries surveyed is now 5.21%, higher than December's prediction of 5.03%. Inflation expectations increased in six countries and declined in four. In particular, expected 2008 inflation in Bolivia fell from 14.02% to 12.54%.
The IDB Cultural Center (IDB/CCN) Takes Latin America to Venice and Rome
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Presents works selected for exhibition in the II Inter-American Biennial of Video Art.Following the opening of the 51st Venice Biennial, IDB Cultural Center II Inter-American Biennial of Video Art was open in Rome on June 16, 2005.
Integration and Trade in the Americas: A Preliminary Estimate of 2001 Trade
Authors: Jessen Anneke , Covarrubias María de la Paz , Katona Andrew , Cornejo Rafael
Published: March 2024

This 2001 report contains the preliminary estimates for Trade in the Americas, with a most notable decline of trade flows in the Western Hemisphere. In 2001, trade within the Americas declined by almost 4% according to preliminary estimates. Contrary to previous years, intra-hemispheric exports performed worse than the hemisphere's exports to the rest of the world, which declined by a less drastic 2% relative to 2000. This in stark contrast to a decade-long trend that saw intra-hemispheric trade expand by more than double the rate of extra-hemispheric exports, with total exports growing by a healthy 8% a year on average. For most countries, the estimates are based on data available for the period January-September.
Vive Haïti!: Contemporary Art of the Haitian Diaspora
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The Cultural Center of the Inter-American Development Bank pays tribute to the Haitian people and the country¿s bicentennial of its independence with an exhibition entitled: Vive Haïti! Contemporary Art of the Haitian Diaspora, which focuses primarily on the work of artists belonging to recent generations from that country who live abroad as a result of the upheaval that has characterized modern Haitian social and economic history.
Integration & Trade Journal: Volume 3 : No. 9 : September-December, 1999
Authors: McCleery Robert K. , Roland-Holst David , Hinojosa Ojeda Raúl , González Flavio Floreal , Ivascanu Daniela , Stephenson Sherry , Giambiagi Fabio , Bussolo Maurizio
Published: March 2024

The Integration & Trade Journal includes articles on the different aspects of integration in Latin America and the Caribbean, on hemispheric integration and, furthermore, on similar processes in other parts of the world. This issue includes the following articles: Why "Rebuilding the Caribbean" Requires NAFTA Parity for CBI Countries: Towards a "Win-Win" Strategy; Colombia and the NAFTA; MERCOSUR: Why Does Monetary Union Make Sense in the Long-term?; MERCOSUR: The Incompatibilities between Its Institutions and the Need to Complete the Customs Union: A Proposal Reform; and, Electronic Commerce in the Americas.
First Inter-American Competition and Exhibition of Digital Photography
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

First Inter-American Competition and Exhibition of Digital Photography sponsored by the IDB Cultural Center and the IDB Information and Communication Technology for Development Division, met January 12 and 13, 2004, in Washington, D.C., and reviewed 300 entries submitted by 100 artists from 20 countries.
Ideas for Development in the Americas (IDEA): Volume 34: May-August, 2014: Rethinking Industrial Policy
Authors: Funaro Rita
Published: March 2024

Industrial policy has often done more harm than good. The time is right for Latin America and the Caribbean to explore a new way of thinking about productive development policy that will help accelerate growth in the region and improve the wellbeing of its citizens. This issue of IDEA provides a taste of the varied menu of productive development policies in the region as well as some of the analytical issues related to the policymaking process. It is based on the IDB's latest edition of its flagship Development in the America's series entitled Rethinking Productive Development: Sound Policies and Institutions for Economic Transformation.
INTAL Connection: No 233: January, 2016
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

INTAL Connection informs on integration and trade in Latin America and the Caribbean and disseminate IADB activities on this topics.
INTAL Connection: No 243: November, 2016
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

INTAL Connection informs on integration and trade in Latin America and the Caribbean and disseminate IADB activities on this topics.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No. 208: December, 2013
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The INTAL Monthly Newsletter reports on developments in integration and trade across Latin American and the Caribbean. It also serves as a forum for discussing the IDB's activities related to these issues through news items, technical cooperation, and a wide array of projects and studies.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No. 191: July, 2012
Authors:   Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean
Published: March 2024

The INTAL Monthly Newsletter reports on developments in integration and trade across Latin American and the Caribbean. It also serves as a forum for discussing the IDB¿s activities related to these issues through news items, technical cooperation, and a wide array of projects and studies.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No. 185: January 2012
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This document is about The SICA Summit and the pillars of Central American integration, Growth of Central American integration payment systems, IDB-INTAL Activities, IDB promotes trade security and facilitation and others IDB activities.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No. 190: June 2012
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Presenta información sobre CARICOM: Lineamientos para una reforma de su Secretaría, Bloques de Integración, CARICOM y México acuerdan favorecer expansión de comercio e inversiones, iocombustibles, salud e infraestructura en la mira del apoyo del BID al Proyecto Mesoamérica y actividades dek BID.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No 214: June, 2014
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The INTAL Monthly Newsletter reports on developments in integration and trade across Latin American and the Caribbean. It also serves as a forum for discussing the IDB's activities related to these issues through news items, technical cooperation, and a wide array of projects and studies.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No 216: August, 2014
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The INTAL Monthly Newsletter reports on developments in integration and trade across Latin American and the Caribbean. It also serves as a forum for discussing the IDB's activities related to these issues through news items, technical cooperation, and a wide array of projects and studies.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No. 197: January, 2013
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The INTAL Monthly Newsletter reports on developments in integration and trade across Latin American and the Caribbean. It also serves as a forum for discussing the IDB's activities related to these issues through news items, technical cooperation, and a wide array of projects and studies.
Procurement Newsletter: Volume 1: March, 2008
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This document, as its name states, is a guide for borrowers and executors on procurement of projects financed by the Bank (part I), planning and execution of procurement (part II) and it includes interactive tools useful to develop the first two parts of the document (part III). Among other things, this guide includes the Procurement Policies and the Standard Bidding Documents. The Guide can be accessed through the Procurement Portal at www.iadb.org/procurement on “Tools
Integration & Trade Journal: Volume 15 : No. 33 : July-December, 2011
Authors: Michalczewsky Kathia , González Anabel , Stuhldreher Amalia , Low Patrick , Giudice Lucía , Gómez Minujín Gala , Wignaraja Ganeshan , De la Mora Luz María , Campos Rosario , Rodríguez Dora , Garnelo Vicente , Molano Cruz Giovanni , Anyanwu Chukwudi David , Marius Ava , De León Gonzalo , Biancareli André M. , Krell Alejandro , Mohammed Debbie A. , Molteni Gabriel R. , Gardini Gian Luca
Published: March 2024

The Integration & Trade Journal includes articles on the different aspects of integration in Latin America and the Caribbean, on hemispheric integration and, furthermore, on similar processes in other parts of the world. The Journal issued a call for the submission of papers that reviewed regional integration processes in Latin America and the Caribbean. This issue includes a collection of the many papers submitted. The titles include: Why it is Worth Rethinking Latin American Integration?; Financial Cooperation within the Context of South American Integration: Current Balance and Future Challenges; The Relevance of LAIA; The Andean Integration Process: Origins, Transformations and Structures; 20 Years on: The Achievements and Pending Challenges of MERCOSUR; MERCOSUR and the Challenges of its Joint Trade Policy: Achievements and Shortcomings of a Process of Incomplete Communitarization; Increasing the Trade Related Capacity of CARICOM Firms in a Post-Crisis Global Economy: The Role of Standards and Regulations; Caribbean Integration: A Rules of Origin Perspective. There's also a special section on Latin American Trading Blocs: Between Reality and Utopia, and a series of interviews to Patrick Low, Anabel González, Ganeshan Wignaraja, and Alejandro Krell.
Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2011: Regaining Growth
Authors: Maldonado René , Bajuk Natasha , Hayem María Luisa
Published: March 2024

This document details trends in remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2011, paying particular attention to the effects of recent economic growth. Over the course of 2011, remittance flows to Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) showed signs of a solid recovery, reaching growth rates close to those recorded before the start of the global economic crisis. Since the last quarter of 2008, the increases in unemployment rates in traditional sending countries like the United States, Spain, and Japan, and the ensuing drops in incomes among LAC migrants had caused an unprecedented decline in the volume of remittances sent to the region. In 2010, remittances to LAC showed signs of stabilization, finishing on a positive growth trend that resulted in an annual volume that was slightly higher than the previous year. In 2011, the countries in the region received a total of US$ 61 billion in remittances, which represents an increase of 6% over the previous year.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 2 : No. 2 : January, 2000
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The first article of this issue of the Microenterprise Development Review highlights four key issues that credit unions in Latin America must grapple with today to become effective financial institutions: rehabilitation, supervision, governance, and consolidation. The second article discusses the lack of reliable information about borrower credit in the region and the methods employed by financial institutions to offset risk. The author argues that credit bureaus can solve this problem by providing the necessary information to evaluate a borrower's ability and willingness to repay their debts.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 4 : No. 1 : July, 2001
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Nowhere in the Americas is microfinance as far advanced as in Bolivia. Using the examples of BancoSol, Caja los Andes and FIE -Bolivia's three largest microfinance institutions- this article describes challenges microfinance has faced from economic recession and borrower revolts; how it stacks up against the rest of the banking sector; and how the industry evolved under those pressures. Finally, the article speculates where Bolivian microfinance, and the microfinance industry in general, may be headed.
Revista Integración & Comercio: Año 15 : No. 33 : Julio-Diciembre, 2011
Authors: Michalczewsky Kathia , González Anabel , Stuhldreher Amalia , Low Patrick , Giudice Lucía , Gómez Minujín Gala , Wignaraja Ganeshan , De la Mora Luz María , Campos Rosario , Rodríguez Dora , Garnelo Vicente , Molano Cruz Giovanni , Anyanwu Chukwudi David , Marius Ava , De León Gonzalo , Biancareli André M. , Krell Alejandro , Mohammed Debbie A. , Molteni Gabriel R. , Gardini Gian Luca
Published: March 2024

La Revista Integración & Comercio del BID incluye artículos referidos a las distintas manifestaciones del proceso de integración en América Latina y el Caribe, a la integración hemisférica y, también, a los procesos con igual orientación que se llevan a cabo en otras partes del mundo. La Revista convocó a la presentación de trabajos que analicen los procesos de integración regional en América Latina y el Caribe. Este número incluye una selección de los trabajos. Los títulos son los siguientes: ¿Por qué vale la pena repensar la integración latinoamericana?; La cooperación financiera en el contexto de la integración sudamericana: Balance y desafíos futuros; La vigencia de la ALADI; La integración andina: Origen, transformaciones y estructuras; 20 años después: Logros y desafíos: Pendientes del MERCOSUR; MERCOSUR y los desafíos de su política comercial conjunta: Logros y déficit de un proceso de comunitarización incompleta; Cómo mejorar la capacidad relacionada con el comercio de las empresas de la CARICOM en la economía mundial después de la crisis: El rol de las normas y las disposiciones; Integración caribeña: Perspectiva a partir de las normas de origen. También se incluye una sección especial sobre bloques comerciales latinoamericanos: entre la realidad y la utopía y una serie de entrevistas a Patrick Low, Anabel González, Ganeshan Wignaraja, y Alejandro Krell.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 3 : No. 2 : Winter, 2001
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This issue of Microenterprise Development Review examines recent innovations and successful examples of sustainable rural financial services. It also takes a look at attracting social investment capital to Latin America. Responsible investment funds for high-impact investments in emerging markets could not only be sustainable, but could catalyze new domestic and international capital markets for small and micro businesses in Latin America.
Impacts and Consequences of the New Regime of Autonomies in Bolivia: Elements for a Discussion
Authors: Faguet Jean-Paul
Published: March 2024

This paper brings the proposal for a second round of reforms aimed to deep decentralization in Bolivia to light for a wider audience, and informs and enriches the current debate within Bolivia on how autonomies can be implemented in ways that strengthen democracy and give voice to the poor. In this sense, it discusses the possible effects on public investment patterns, government responsiveness, government fiscal relations, the sustainability of public finances, and political accountability.
The Question is Not Whether "To Devalue or Not to Devalue?" But Rather "What to Devalue?"
Authors: Ruprah Inder J.
Published: March 2024

In this policy brief, we review the problem of a lack of competitiveness and the policy options to improve competitiveness and hence promote economic growth. Inadequate competitiveness can be measured as a sustained current account deficit of the balance of payments. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of three devaluation policy options: an external devaluation, an internal devaluation, and a fiscal devaluation. We conclude that the latest fashionable option, fiscal devaluation, offers gain with no pain but detailed country-specific simulations are needed to determine which option is the better one.
Laments of the Caribbean Businessperson are Based on Facts?
Authors: Sierra Ricardo , Ruprah Inder J.
Published: March 2024

In this policy brief, we review the laments of Caribbean businesspersons. We find that subjective perceptions are rooted in an objective reality. Businesspersons do not complain gratuitously. Furthermore, we find that constraints vary systematically by firm characteristics: In general, small firms and contracting firms face relatively harsher conditions. To enhance a country's economic growth, relevant policy needs to be changed toward a more pro-business stance.
What Works in the Criminal Justice System (And What Doesn't): A 2000-11 Update on Policing, Courts, and Corrections
Authors: Pousadela Inés M.
Published: March 2024

As crime has become a serious cause of concern in most of Latin America, the "nothing works" era in criminal justice has given way to a shift towards evidence-based crime prevention in North America and Europe. The program evaluations conducted so far have yielded growing knowledge about what works, what does not work and what is promising, especially regarding recidivism outcomes. However, policymaking in Latin America remains ignorant to the available evidence, and most crime prevention policies, practices and programs are still being based on tradition, opinions, ideology, trends and anecdotal evidence rather than scientifically validated studies. On the basis of a review of the current literature on evidence-based crime prevention and an extensive search, analysis and systematization of the most recent program evaluations in policing, courts and corrections, this paper summarizes a series of lessons for Latin America and proposes a research and policy agenda for the region.
Remittances as a Safety Net in Jamaica
Authors: Sierra Ricardo , Ruprah Inder J. , Beuermann Diether
Published: March 2024

This policy brief answers three main questions for the Jamaican economy: (a) Do remittances act as a safety net during negative health shocks? (b) Are remittances subject to moral hazard by receivers? (c) How does formal health insurance interact with remittances as a safety net during adverse health episodes? Evidence suggests that remittances offer full protection against decreased consumption during health shocks, that they are not subject to moral hazard by receivers and that they are particularly relevant among beneficiaries of publicly provided health insurance. These results indicate that relatively higher emphasis could be placed on fostering policies aimed at reducing transaction costs for sending and receiving remittances over policies aiming at increasing senders' control over the use of remittances; and on identifying beneficiaries of public health insurance schemes (without access to private health insurance) who do not receive remittances as a particularly vulnerable population where targeting of complementary safety nets could be directed.
Caribbean Economic Alchemy: Has Magic Returned to Bauxite?
Authors: Khan Sarosh R.
Published: March 2024

After a long period of stagnating prices, the global bauxite market is experiencing changes which are expected to drive prices higher. To a large extent, these changes are driven by increasing demand from Chinese manufacturing. However, constraints on exports imposed by major bauxite producers, such as Indonesia and India have affected the supply side as well, and represent an opportunity for Caribbean bauxite exporters to increase their share of a growing market. This Policy Brief provides an overview of the aforementioned changes in market conditions and proposes a new approach to organizing bauxite mining for the Caribbean bauxite exporters.
De-risking
Authors: Wright Allan
Published: March 2024

It is essential to have secure, stable monetary and worldwide payment frameworks that reduce exposure to Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (ML/FT), while permitting access to markets and customers from vulnerable economies that are seen as high risk. To accomplish this, all partners, including governments, national regulators, multilaterals, and worldwide banks, must help national respondent banks in building up their risk and compliance structures, enhancing training for front-line officers, and upgrading current back office frameworks. This will assist them to maintain existing connections between global banks and their local respondents.
Understanding and Combatting Crime in Guyana
Authors: Baxter Sasha , Sutton Heather
Published: March 2024

Over the past decade, Guyana has recorded impressive economic growth. Many argue that the country’s economic future looks even brighter thanks to the recent massive oil discovery. But its development potential is hindered by many factors, including high levels of crime and violence tied to low levels of interpersonal trust and social cohesion and low trust in criminal justice institutions. Important related factors include high tolerance for the use of violence to solve problems in the home and the community. These issues can be successfully addressed by promoting a better balance between crime suppression and prevention programmes. However, for such programmes to be successful, the country needs data that are consistent, reliable, and detailed. Specifically, this means data that are collected frequently and are disaggregated according to critical demographics, such as gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic stratum, and neighbourhood. Resources should be directed towards (1) acquiring an adequate quality and quantity of data that will ensure greater success in preventative programmes to increase the country’s return on investment, (2) promote more preventative programmes and conduct rigorous monitoring and evaluation to identify the effects, and (3) improve the capacity and performance of the criminal justice system by improving police investigation capabilities and training on community relations, improved case management for the courts, and increased use of alternative sentencing based on clear rules.
La implementación de acuerdos comerciales preferenciales en América Latina: Las experiencias de CH, CR, ES, PE en la implementación de las disposiciones sobre acceso a mercados en el marco de los tratados de libre comercio con Estados Unidos
Authors: Zuñiga Juan Luis , Staples Brian Rankin
Published: March 2024

Este estudio abordará los desafíos y dificultades asociadas con la implementación y administración de las disposiciones sobre acceso a mercados, con especial énfasis en aquellas relacionadas con aduanas y facilitación del comercio. El análisis se realizará para los Tratados de Libre Comercio de Chile - EE.UU; Perú - EE.UU y para el Tratado de Libre Comercio entre Estados Unidos, Centroamérica y República Dominicana, conocido por sus siglas en inglés como CAFTA-DR1 (específicamente en los casos de El Salvador y Costa Rica). En el informe se identificarán las respuestas que Chile, Perú, El Salvador y Costa Rica han dado a los retos enfrentados, señalando las mejores prácticas y lecciones derivadas del proceso y se determinará si estos instrumentos comerciales han contribuido al fortalecimiento de las instituciones y el Estado de Derecho, así como, si han contribuido a mejorar el clima de negocios.
Ley de guarderías en México y los desafíos institucionales de conectar familia y trabajo
Authors: Rodríguez Chamussy Lourdes , Grafe Fernando , Mateo-Berganza Díaz María Mercedes
Published: March 2024

Respecto a otros países en América Latina, México está rezagado en dos dimensiones: la tasa de participación laboral femenina es una de las más bajas y el alcance de los programas de desarrollo infantil temprano es limitado, con apenas 4% de uso entre los niños entre 0 y 5 años de edad. El sistema de protección social el México tiene la oportunidad de moverse hacia un nuevo escenario de integralidad y articulación de políticas y programas públicos. En este contexto, para lograr los efectos positivos tanto en los niños como en las posibilidades de inserción laboral de sus madres hace falta una política nacional congruente. La Ley General de prestación de servicios para la atención, cuidado y desarrollo integral infantil, publicada en el Diario Oficial de la Federación en octubre de 2011, es una oportunidad para dotar al sistema de una instancia coordinadora y para generar la información que permita tener un registro y establecer un buen diagnóstico de la oferta y demanda de estos servicios.
¿Qué lugar ocupa la economía cubana en la región?: Una medición a la tasa PPA de las brechas de ingreso y productividad
Authors: Pavel Vidal Alejandro
Published: March 2024

En el presente estudio se realizan mediciones, a la tasa PPA, del PIB total y per cápita y la productividad de la economía cubana, y se comparan con 10 economías de similar tamaño en América Latina y el Caribe (AL-10). Los cálculos muestran que la economía cubana ha venido perdiendo peso relativo en la región. En 1970, el PIB cubano total era 5,3 veces mayor que el promedio de las economías de AL-10; en 2011, era solo 1,5 veces mayor. En 2011, el PIB per cápita cubano se estimaba en US$PPA 5.973; Uruguay y Panamá más que lo duplicaban, Costa Rica lo superaba en 69%, y República Dominicana en 46%. La descapitalización de la economía explica la mayor parte de la caída del ingreso cubano. La productividad ha ido creciendo como consecuencia de las reformas de mercado puestas en marcha desde los años noventa, pero éstas han sido insuficientes para alcanzar a las economías de mejor desempeño en la región. Las estimaciones ponen de relieve que las ganancias que ha producido la revolución cubana en términos de progreso social han marchado en paralelo a una gran pérdida de eficiencia económica.
Estimación del tipo de cambio real de equilibrio de Honduras
Authors: Quijada José Alejandro , García Yocauris
Published: March 2024

Este trabajo identifica los determinantes del tipo de cambio real de equilibrio de Honduras y su desalineamiento durante el periodo 1990-2013. Para ello derivamos el tipo de cambio real de equilibrio de largo plazo, en línea con los fundamentos teóricos que la literatura señala como relevantes. Entre los principales determinantes del tipo de cambio real de equilibrio destacan: productividad relativa en relación al principal socio comercial, gasto público, términos de intercambio, apertura comercial, inversión extranjera directa y remesas. Nuestros resultados indican que el desalineamiento del tipo de cambio real con sus fundamentos de largo plazo es bajo.
Policy Profile: Access to Information Policy
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This Policy Profile reaffirms the Bank's commitment to tranparency in all aspects of its operations and demonstrates to its clients, principally the countries of the Region that it serves, that it reflects the best practices that they have adopted in recent years. The Policy Profile stresses the principles of maximizing access to information that the Bank produces that is not on a list of exceptions. Any exceptions to disclosure will be predicated upon the possibility that the potential harm arising from disclosure would outweigh the benefits, or that the Bank is legally obligated to non-disclosure.
Water in the Time of Drought: Lessons from Five Droughts around the World
Authors: Núñez Anamaría , Cathala Corinne , Rios Ana R.
Published: March 2024

This policy brief examines these crises, explores successes and pitfalls in the response mechanisms, and extracts valuable lessons to assist decision makers in dealing with droughts, providing practical guidance in terms of urban planning and management. It will do so through a three-pronged approach: First, it describes the situation each utility and region faced while tackling the drought, as well as the measures they implemented to respond to that dire situation. Second, it will present some recommendations and lessons learned to build climate resilience in the future. Lastly, it will show how droughts may often be catalysts for new strategic measures and innovation that address water stress over the long term.
Housing Finance in Chile: The Experience in Primary and Secondary Mortgage Financing
Authors: Pardo Claudio Adrián
Published: March 2024

This paper presents the experiences of the housing finance market in Chile. It was first presented at a regional conference on the development of mortgage securitization held at the Inter-American Development Bank. The paper focuses on the evolution of housing finance in Chile, including the role of the government and the development of the secondary market for mortgages with a link to the growth of institutional investors.
Lending for Urban Heritage Conservation: Issues and Opportunities
Authors: Rojas Eduardo , Castro Claudio de Moura
Published: March 2024

This document responds to that need, providing a discussion of the various approaches that can be followed in urban heritage preservation, as well as recommendations on those that are most appropriate given the circumstances of region.
United States Companies Operating in Latin America: Tax Issues
Authors: Byrne Peter D.
Published: March 2024

How a government can attract investment and maintain revenue is a perennial question. This paper attempts to answer this question for Latin American governments with respect to investors from the United States. To do so, it describes and analyzes the U.S. tax rules that are applicable to U.S. residents who invest in Latin America.
Globalization and Tax Competition: Implications for Developing Countries
Authors: Avi-Yonah Reuven S.
Published: March 2024

The current age of globalization can be distinguished from the previous one by the much higher mobility of capital than labor. The mobility of capital has led to tax competition, in which sovereign countries lower their tax rates on income earned by foreigners within their borders in order to attract both portfolio and direct investment. Tax competition, in turn, threatens to undermine the individual and corporate income taxes, which remain major sources of revenue for all modern states. This paper argues that if government service programs are to be maintained in the face of globalization, it is necessary to cut the intermediate link by limiting tax competition.
Enabling Enterprise Competitiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean through ISO Management System Standards
Authors: Wilson Steven R. , Maizza-Neto Octavio
Published: March 2024

This paper was first presented at a conference sponsored by the MIF and the IDB to examine the impact of quality and the related issues of ISO management systems standards upon the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region. A program of assistance to support SMEs in improving their competitiveness through continuous improvement and the cost-effective uses of the ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards is introduced.
A Firm-Level Approach to Majority Market Business: Private Sector Mapping Project
Authors:   Netherlands Development Organization,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The Private Sector Mapping Project takes a closer look at the current motives, strategies, incentives, obstacles, and benefits as perceived by firms to enter untapped majority markets.
A Guide to Developing National Aid-for-Trade Strategies
Authors: Lucenti Krista
Published: March 2024

According to the responses from the region to the 2008 Aid-for-Trade questionnaire, there is a disconnect between the priorities established by governments and those set by donors. This strategy is designed to support governments in identifying priorities, improving coordination between Ministries, designing a monitoring and evaluation mechanism, and initiating a dialogue with donors and investors, whether local or foreign.
Aid for Trade and the Mesoamerica Project
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank,   Proyecto Mesoamérica Integración y Desarrollo
Published: March 2024

The objective of the WTO¿s Aid for Trade (AFT) initiative is to help developing countries to build the supply-side capacity and trade related infrastructure needed to implement and benefit from trade liberalization and enhance market access, and more broadly to expand their trade.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

As the selection of arbitrators and mediators is transparent and mutually agreed, their independence of any ties to the respective parties is ensured, promoting impartiality and professionalism on the part of those responsible for resolving the conflict.
Best Practices in Cleaner Production: Promotion and Implementation for Smaller Enterprises (Appendix 1-Case Summaries)
Authors: Ashton Weslynne , Luque Andrés , Ehrenfeld John R.
Published: March 2024

This annex contains specific examples of cleaner production (CP) strategies for smaller enterprises including regional overviews of Latin America, Asia and Europe. It contains best practices from: Multinational Umbrella Programs such as Asian Development Bank, Nordic Environmental Finance Corporation (NEFCO), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) &United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United States ¿ Asia Environmental Partnership (USAEP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank; and Country-Specific Programs such as United States Environmental Protection AgencySmall Businesses & Cleaner Production, National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR), The CNP+L of Mexico, Individual experiences in Latin-America, Australian Cleaner Production Experiences, Indonesia¿s Cleaner Production Award Model, Cleaner Production in Sri Lankan SMEs, Taiwan¿s Cleaner Production Programs, Cleaner Production in Thailand.
Billions in Motion: Latino Immigrants, Remittances and Banking
Authors:   Pew Hispanic Center,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Research on how remitters choose the means to send money home, including projections of remittance flows to Mexico and Central America that illustrate the extraordinary growth in recent years and the potential for continued growth and a demographic portrait of Latino remittance senders drawn from the Pew Hispanic Center/Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey of Latinos. Study is partially based on a Bendixen survey of Latino immigrants in USA.
Brazil's Trade Liberalization and Growth: Has it Failed?
Authors: Mesquita Moreira Mauricio
Published: March 2024

Unfulfilled expectations about economic growth in Brazil has led many observers to question the ability of the new, open trade regime to put the economy back on a path of sustainable growth. Whereas the country's growth record has been really poor, the evidence suggests that the underlying causes had nothing to do with trade. Quite the contrary. This paper shows that trade liberalization has given an important contribution to two of the main drivers of growth: productivity and investment in physical capital. It argues that these gains were not turned into growth due to an unfavorable macro and institutional environment. It also claims that Brazil could have enjoyed more gains from trade, had it pursued a more aggressive trade policy at home and abroad. The paper concludes by outlining the main issues of a pro-growth, trade policy agenda for the country.
Central America: Remittances and the Macroeconomic Variable
Authors: Orozco Manuel
Published: March 2024

Analysis of the relationship between remittances and the local economies in Central America, with special attention to Nicaragua and Guatemala. It also provides some policy recommendations to leverage and mitigate the impact of remittances.
Central American Report N0. 2 (2004)
Authors: Balsells Conde Edgar Alfredo
Published: March 2024

This report assesses the Central American integration process in recent years, locating it in the context established by the nature of the subregion¿s international insertion, its macroeconomic performance, and the negotiation of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) with the United States. The first part provides a summary analysis of the macroeconomic context. The second examines the features of the subregion¿s external insertion, including an appraisal of trade and investment among the Central American countries. The third part reviews the determinants of these processes. The fourth part of the report describes the processes of political, social and environmental integration in the subregion, and the fifth addresses the negotiation and substance of the FTA between Central America (and later the Dominican Republic) and the United States. The final part identifies a tentative agenda arising from the challenges of Central American integration and from the agreement with the United States.
Evaluating the Impact of Regional Development Programs
Authors: Winters Paul , Sitja Rubio Susana
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this guideline is to discuss the objectives and approaches of regional (subnational) development programs in order to provide guidance on issues related to evaluating the impact of these programs. Regional development programs are designed to improve the income-generating capacity of, and reduce poverty in, a focus region within a country.
Financial Inclusion Through the Bono de Desarrollo Humano in Ecuador: Exploring Options and Beneficiary Readiness
Authors: Samaniego Pablo , Tejerina Luis
Published: March 2024

The objective of the document is to asses the level of interaction of the Bono de Desarrollo Humano benficiaries in Quito with the financial sector. Specifically the study tries to understand different aspects related to the use of electronic cards to pay the BDH transfers and the wellbeing on beneficiaries.
IDB Survey of Remittances to Mexico and Central America: Findings and Analysis
Authors:   Bendixen and Amandi,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Results and analysis of a poll on remittance senders (Mexico and Central America)
International Arbitration Claims against Domestic Tax Measures Deemed Expropriatory or Unfair and the Inequitable
Authors: Rodríguez Piedrahita Adrián F.
Published: March 2024

Preliminary statements about the role of FTAs and the importance of understanding the potential consequences of adopting tax measures deemed expropriatory or unfair and inequitable. Overview of CAFTA-DR¿s Framework on Indirect Expropriation. Introduces the concepts of investment, the obligation not to expropriate, and dispute resolution alternatives available. Tax Measures Equating to Indirect Expropriation. Discusses the role of international law in the interpretation and application of treaty rules, particularly the obligations not to expropriate and to afford the investor fair and equitable treatment, approaching them from the perspective of domestic tax measures. Domestic Tax Disputes Rising to the Level of Investment Arbitration Disputes. Through a comparative analysis of a recent case it elaborates on the investor¿s room to characterize a domestic tax dispute as an investment dispute seeking relief under treaty provisions from an international arbitration panel.
Knowledge Enhancement in the Small Economies of Central America: Reflections on Building a Strategic Approach
Authors: Sáenz-Arce Pedro
Published: March 2024

This document advocates better mechanisms for ongoing learning and better access to knowledge in small economies. Its objective is to raise awareness about two issues related to science and technology projects that are relevant for the small economies of Central America, namely that: (1) there are insufficient knowledge-based innovations to support rapid economic growth; and (2) the size of the investments in technologies appropriate for the poor are too meager to be effective in enhancing the opportunities and capabilities available to disadvantaged groups. The paper takes the position that understanding these issues will allow greater emphases in certain aspects of science and technology project design. Moreover, greater attention to these issues contribute to the institutional objectives of the Bank such as competitiveness and poverty reduction.
MERCOSUR Report No. 8 (2001-2002)
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The eighteen months from June 2001 to end December 2002 were a period of unprecedented economic crisis within MERCOSUR, stemming from the sharp external shock that, with different characteristics, origins, and consequences in each member country, manifested itself in the blocs two main economies as the exhaustion of market or voluntary credit. This phenomenon occurred in the context of a world economy with little momentum, one finding it highly difficult to recover the growth rate of the 1990s, and characterized, in particular, by limited flows of liquidity towards emerging markets. Unlike the traumatic events of recent years, this was not a case of mere contagion effect among neighboring and partner countries.
Remittance Recipients in Mexico
Authors:   Pew Hispanic Center,   Bendixen and Amandi,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Results and analysis of a Poll on Remittance Recipients in Mexico