bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Medellín: Art and Development
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

An exhibition exploring the development of the City of Medellín, Colombia, and the connections that may exist between art and development. The exhibition was run from February 19 to April 24, 2009. A full color, bilingual (English and Spanish) catalogue, containing the entire selection of the objects in the exhibition, plus the essays of the various contributors is available upon request.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 3 : No. 1 : Summer, 2000
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This issue of Microenterprise Development Review examines the steps needed for microentrepreneurs who want to register his or her own business. In addition, another article addresses a recent study by the IDB Microenterprise Unit that provides a poverty profile of microentrepreneurs, with data on labor standards, social security, environmental protection, and operational permits.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 6 : No. 2 : January, 2004
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This issue of the Microenterprise Development Review examines the creation of national apex funds to finance microfinance. An IDB study of second-tier financing programs for microfinance sheds light on the promise and pitfalls of this approach. It also examines the importance of business development services (BDS) for improving the productivity of smaller businesses and details a recent IDB study, "Lessons Learned from BDS Programs for Small Enterprises in Latin America, 1995-2002."
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 13 : May, 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 May issue, REVELA reports that growth expectations for 2008, on average, remained almost unchanged in Latin America, with a simple average expected growth rate of 5.17%. Compared to last month's survey, there are four countries with higher expected 2008 growth rates: Brazil, Peru Uruguay and Mexico, and four with somewhat lower expectations: Chile, Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay. On the other hand, inflation expectations continue to rise; now the expected inflation rate for 2008 is 7.95%, higher than last month's 0.7%. Inflation expectations for 2009 also increased from 7.36% to 7.47%.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 14 : June, 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 June issue, REVELA reports that growth expectations for 2008 on average remained almost unchanged in Latin America, with a simple average expected growth rate of 5.14%. The expected 2008 growth rate increased in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay, while it decreased in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. On the other hand, inflation expectations continue to rise; now the expected inflation rate for 2008 is 8.48%, 0.53% higher than last month. Inflation expectations for 2009 also increased from 7.47% to 7.90%.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 15 : July, 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. The July issue of REVELA details that growth expectations for 2008 have increased very slightly with respect to last month. Now the simple average expected growth rate is 5.24%. Growth is forecast to slow in 2009, to an average of 4.88%. On the other hand, inflation expectations continue to rise; the expected inflation rate for 2008 increased from 8.48% to 8.95%. Inflation expectations for 2009 are also up; they increased from 7.90% to 8.3%.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 22 : February, 2009
Authors: Galindo Arturo , Pinzon Mauricio
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 February issue, REVELA reports that growth expectations for 2009 decreased with respect to last month's survey. Now the simple average expected growth rate is 2.66%. In the same way, growth is expected to slow in 2010, to an average of 3.34%, down from last month's 3.54% 2010 forecast. On the other hand, the expected inflation rate for 2009 decreased from 7.56% to 7.25%. The simple average of the expected inflation rate for 2010 is 5.63%.
Tradition and Entrepreneurship: Popular Arts and Crafts from Peru
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Presents an exhibition of folk objects and crafts from Peru, representing various regions in which tradition has evolved within oldage artistic expressions, was be presented at the Art Gallery of the Cultural Center of the InterAmerican Development Bank, in Washington, D.C., from February 26 to April 30. The exhibit also includes objects that reflect recent innovations introduced by artisans and entrepreneurs with the idea of making such expressions more economically sustainable.
Conexión INTAL: No 237: Mayo, 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 239: July, 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 240: August, 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. 204: August, 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. 205: September, 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. 206: October, 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. 207: November, 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. 210 - February 2014
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 212: April, 2014
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. 187: March 2012
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This document is about Commitment to the Central America Security Strategy, First negotiating round between the EFTA and Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama and others IDB-INTAL Activities.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No. 188: April, 2012
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This document is about Integration Blocs, Active trade policies in MERCOSUR countries in response to international slowdown, 6th Summit of the Americas, 4th Summit of BRICS leaders and IDB-INTAL activities.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No. 198: February, 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 219: November, 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. 202: June, 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 3 : September, 2008
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This newsletter presents articles about Associations versus Subcontractors, The use of SISCAE's dissemination module reports important savings to the Nicaraguan Government, Thresholds for International Competitive Bidding and OECD/DAC Methodology for the evaluation of national procurement systems.
Ideas for Development in the Americas (IDEA): Volume 26: September-December, 2011: Room for Development in Housing Markets
Authors: Funaro Rita
Published: March 2024

Latin American and Caribbean countries are the most urban in the developing world, enjoy very high homeownership rates, and boast high average family incomes by developing world standards. However, many of the region's city inhabitants are still poorly housed. This issue of IDEA draws from the 2012 edition of the IDB's flagship publication titled Room for Development: Housing Markets in Latin America and the Caribbean to examine the magnitude of the problem and review policy options for dealing with it.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 2 : No. 1 : August, 1999
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This issue of the Microenterprise Development Review explores the use of benchmark indicators in the context of microfinance in Latin America and the Caribbean. This article takes a first step in addressing the lack of timely, objective and reliable information on actual and potential client institutions by providing concrete and reliable reference values for several benchmark indicators relevant to the microfinance industry.
Informal Employment in Latin America and the Caribbean: Causes, Consequences and Policy Recommendations
Authors: Freije Samuel
Published: March 2024

The expansion of the informal sector in the last decades has been accompanied by a lack of almost every form of social protection and low-productivity/low-wage employment. This report summarizes the characteristics of the informal sector and provides policy recommendations to tackle it. Section 2 illustrates the size and trend of the informal sector in the region. It also describes the employment and wage characteristics of informal workers. Sections 3 and 4 review the causes and consequences of informality. Finally, section five concludes and provides policy recommendations.
The Growth of Conditional Cash Transfers in Latin America and the Caribbean: Did They Go Too Far?
Authors: Stampini Marco , Tornarolli Leopoldo
Published: March 2024

Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) are an endogenous innovation from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) that aims to reduce current poverty while developing the human capital of the next generation, in the attempt to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty. Pioneered in Brazil and Mexico in the late 1990s, by 2011 CCTs had spread to 18 countries in the region and covered as many as 135 million beneficiaries. In this paper, we use administrative and household survey data to document (i) the evolution of CCTs and poverty in LAC, (ii) the relationship between expanded coverage and the quality of targeting and (iii) the change in beneficiary household characteristics. We show that in most countries the transfers represent over 20% of poor beneficiaries' incomes, and the poverty headcount index would be on average 13% higher, had CCTs not been implemented.
Financing Public Security: Tax and Non-tax Instruments to Finance Citizen Security and Crime Prevention
Authors: Coelho Isaias
Published: March 2024

Drawing on the innovative sources of financing for public security that have developed in Latin American and the Caribbean in recent years, this paper reviews the main revenue instruments that can be used to finance various aspects of citizen security. The paper focuses on the structure of financing for the security budget and does not attempt to provide an assessment of expenditure needs and efficiency. If an in-depth country analysis concludes that more resources are needed, the paper provides a guideline on how to think about the merits of different new financing instruments and of earmarking these funds.
Does Size Matter? Yes, If You are Caribbean!
Authors: Ruprah Inder J.
Published: March 2024

This policy brief reviews whether the size of a country limits economic growth. Diseconomies of scale, indivisible fixed costs and geographic barriers represent intrinsic characteristics of small economies that might hinder economic growth. However, while some small economies have overcome the size hurdle, Caribbean countries have not. There is a widening growth and GDP per capita gap between the Caribbean and other small economies. Further, the Caribbean countries¿ ability to generate employment for given growth has fallen over time and relative to other small economies. It is not size that is the problem.
To Cut or Not To Cut: Does the Caribbean Follow the Advice of Multilaterals?
Authors: Seerattan Dave , Mercer-Blackman Valerie
Published: March 2024

This policy brief defines the challenges of conducting appropriate fiscal policy over the past 20 years in four Caribbean countries (The Bahamas, Barbados, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago) and reviews international financial institutions' technical assistance and advice on tax and expenditures policies. The review finds that national authorities usually agree with the policy recommendations of the international financial institutions in most areas but disagree with the pace and scale of policy implementation. Moreover, delays in implementing required policy action at a suitable pace in many instances may have contributed to a pro-cyclical fiscal stance and worsened the region's fiscal accounts. In future designs of technical assistance, some Caribbean-specific features need to be taken into account. The authors analyze current conditions and provide viable recommendations.
Unemployment and Growth: Does Okun's Law Apply to Trinidad and Tobago?
Authors: Salazni Mariana , Mercer-Blackman Valerie
Published: March 2024

Are output changes and the unemployment rate related in Trinidad and Tobago? According to the economic theory known as Okun's Law, the two variables should be negatively correlated, and for the United States this relation holds quite well. We test this hypothesis for the economy of Trinidad and Tobago using annual data between 1980 and 2012 and also look at more recent quarterly data, accounting for the fact that the energy sector is a large contributor to the country's GDP. We find that the relation between unemployment and real growth is negative but weaker in Trinidad and Tobago, compared with the United States, but seems to be clearly affected by underestimation of the unemployment rate in recent years. This exercise also reinforces the importance of improving labor and GDP statistics in the country.
How Much Anti-Money Laundering Effort is Enough? The Jamaican Experience
Authors: Schmid Juan Pedro
Published: March 2024

The worldwide fight against money laundering (AML) is escalating. Individuals and businesses that conduct and depend on legitimate international financial transactions are feeling the impact of measures meant to counter illegitimate ones. Countries flagged as having weak AML regulations encounter substantial challenges maintaining correspondent banking relations. However, recent experiences have shown that fulfilling the AML standards, albeit necessary, is not sufficient to persuade financial institutions to keep international financial relations. This is particularly the case with international fund transfers via correspondent banks. Jurisdictions such as Jamaica--even if generally complying with AML standards--face challenges to use banks for correspondent services. Reasons to avoid having correspondent banking relations with certain financial institutions include the following: First, correspondent banking is risky in itself, given the difficulty for the respondent to effectively supervise the AML capacity of the correspondent. In addition, the risk of a transaction depends on country-specific factors, most notably the strength and enforcement of a sound AML system and the type of clients. Money services businesses constitute one category that is perceived as more vulnerable to money laundering. Given these elements, respondent banks may simply decide to sever correspondent banking relations to avoid risks--real or perceived--altogether. This tendency to avoid perceived risks makes finding a potential solution challenging. Not only would countries have to attain the highest possible level of compliance with AML standards, they would also need to develop a communication strategy that effectively conveys that the government and private sector recognize and embrace the money laundering issue and are committed to the implementation of AML efforts.
Enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles y sus factores de riesgo en Argentina: prevalencia y prevención
Authors: Marchionni Mariana , Porto Natalia , Conconi Adriana , Caporale Joaquín
Published: March 2024

Este trabajo se concentra en las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (EC), sus factores de riesgo evitables (FR) y las medidas preventivas que se aplican en la Argentina. En particular se persiguen tres objetivos: (1) analizar las características y determinantes de las EC y sus FR, (2) identificar a nivel teórico cuáles son las estrategias de prevención primaria y secundaria costo-efectivas, y (3) evaluar la cobertura de tales estrategias en el caso argentino. Como principales fuentes de información se emplean la Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo 2005 y los Registros de Estadísticas Vitales.
Recalibrando la medición del balance estructural en Chile
Authors: Marcel Mario , Cabezas Mabel , Piedrabuena Bernardita
Published: March 2024

El presente resumen de políticas realiza una revisión sistemática de la metodología de estimación del Balance Estructural (BE) en Chile. Esta revisión no sólo recapitula y evalúa la justificación de la metodología de cálculo del BE actual o las pasadas, sino que explora diversas alternativas de mejoramiento, en la perspectiva de elevar la calidad, transparencia y estabilidad del BE como base de la política fiscal en Chile. A casi 10 años del comienzo de la conducción de la política fiscal en Chile base a una regla de BE, es posible afirmar que se lograron los objetivos perseguidos al establecer la regla, cuales eran dar credibilidad a la política fiscal, ahorrar para financiar obligaciones futuras, y estabilizar el gasto fiscal. La regla fiscal ha contado con cierta flexibilidad, ya que durante este período ésta ha experimentado importantes ajustes metodológicos. Aunque los cambios metodológicos que se han ido introduciendo han buscado elevar la precisión o la capacidad contracíclica del indicador, ello se ha producido a costa de una pérdida de simplicidad y transparencia. Los cambios metodológicos en el indicador de BE deberían ser producto de una rigurosa evaluación de sus costos y beneficios, informarse y justificarse públicamente y aplicarse retroactivamente para mantener la consistencia del indicador. Un proceso de construcción y reforzamiento de las bases institucionales de la política fiscal en Chile debe incluir, en principio, tres elementos: (a) ajustes en las políticas de gastos y financiamiento que fortalezcan su capacidad contracíclica de manera cuantificable y predecible; (b) reducción de la discrecionalidad en el manejo de las dimensiones contables y metodológicas de las finanzas públicas, haciendo más transparente la gestión fiscal, y (c) un esfuerzo de explicación y difusión de la regla fiscal, que facilite su comprensión por los formadores de opinión y la población en general.
El surgimiento de la cooperación Sur-Sur: Hacia un nuevo ecosistema de cooperación para el desarrollo
Authors: Tres Joaquim
Published: March 2024

La Cooperación Sur-Sur (CSS) ha surgido con gran ímpetu en los últimos cinco años e iniciado su consolidación en América Latina y el Caribe (ALC), contribuyendo al aumento del número de actores, de instrumentos de intercambio de conocimiento y experiencias de desarrollo y a la diversificación de enfoques, aspectos todos ellos de un ecosistema emergente de cooperación. Ante este contexto, muchos analistas se preguntan ¿por qué surgió la CSS en estos momentos? y ¿qué implicaciones puede tener para la arquitectura global de la cooperación? Esta nota responde a estas preguntas a partir de una revisión primero de los cambios producidos en la última década que han transformado la posición global de ALC y que explican el surgimiento de la CSS, para luego analizar las implicaciones de estos cambios para los donantes tradicionales de cooperación y su relación con los países de ALC, con énfasis en el caso del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Esta nota finaliza anticipando los retos que genera el ecosistema emergente de la cooperación y su impacto en el mediano plazo para la cooperación en Iberoamérica.
A Renewed Agenda for Regional Cooperation: Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency and Integration
Authors:   World Bank,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Second Meeting of the Finance Ministers of the Americas and the Caribbean
Governance in Suriname
Authors: Martin Dougal
Published: March 2024

This study surveys governance issues in Suriname. It looks at the Constitution, the National Assembly, the executive branch of government (particularly the civil service and budgetary management), the justice sector, local government, civil society and corruption. The study concludes that deficiencies in governance have adversely affected Suriname's economic and social development and that the quality of governance in many areas will have to improve if better development outcomes are to be achieved.
Decentralization in Colombia
Authors: Steiner Roberto , Carrasquilla Alberto , Alesina Alberto
Published: March 2024

This working paper focuses on four issues: (i) the rules of allocation of fiscal resources to different localities; (ii) the rules concerning how localities can spend fiscal transfers from the center; (iii) the rules concerning the balance of local governments' budgets; and (iv) issues concerning incentives for local politicians. This working paper is organized as follows: Section 2 describes the current situation and problems related to fiscal decentralization in Colombia. Section 3 discusses the policy issues related to fiscal federalism with an 'eye' focused on those more relevant for Colombia. Section 4 illustrates our proposal for reforms.
The Role of Foreign Technology and Indigenous Innovation in the Emerging Economies: Technological Change and Catching Up
Authors: Fu Xiaolan , Pietrobelli Carlo , Soete Luc
Published: March 2024

This article explores in depth the role of indigenous and foreign innovation efforts in technological change and catching up in emerging economies. It also looks at the interaction between indigenous and foreign innovation. The article presents original evidence and argues that, despite the potential offered by globalisation and a liberal trade regime, the benefits of international technology diffusion can only be delivered with parallel indigenous innovation efforts and the presence of modern institutional and governance structures and conducive innovation systems. This conclusion is compounded by the expected inappropriateness of Northern technology for countries in the developing South, which calls for greater efforts to develop indigenous innovation. In this sense, indigenous and foreign innovation efforts are complementary.
Integration and Trade in the Americas: A Preliminary Estimate of 2004 Trade
Authors: Harris Jeremy , Winter Lucas , Shearer Matthew , Mesquita Moreira Mauricio , Covarrubias María de la Paz , Cornejo Rafael
Published: March 2024

Preliminary estimates by the IDB indicate that the growth of Latin American exports in 2004 will be the highest in the last two decades, reaching 23 percent.
A Primer for Applying Propensity-Score Matching
Authors: Maffioli Alessandro , Heinrich Carolyn , Vázquez Gonzalo
Published: March 2024

This document provides a guide to the key aspects of implementing Propensity-Score Matching (PSM) methodology. It summarizes the basic conditions under which PSM can be used to estimate the impact of a program and the data required, presenting examples of PSM applications. It explains how the Conditional Independence Assumption, combined with the Overlap Condition, reduces selection bias when participation in a program is determined by observable characteristics. It also describes different matching algorithms and some tests to assess the quality of the matching.
A Study on the Activities of IFIs in the Area of Export Credit Insurance and Export Finance
Authors: Smallridge Diana , Stephens Malcom
Published: March 2024

Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) play a role of central importance in international trade and investment flows. ECAs are a vital part of the infrastructure supporting trade and have often been considered to be a critical component in a nation's export-led growth strategy. The basic role of an ECA is to support and encourage exports and outward investment by insuring international trade and investment transactions and, in some cases, providing finance directly. One of the most common and most challenging problems that ECAs face is what to do about small exporters. Small exporters are a significant and politically sensitive subject in most countries for various reasons and not necessarily because they make a substantial or potentially substantial contribution to total exports. Facilities tailored to small exporters may be costly to operate largely because of diseconomies of scale: administrative costs per contract may be as high as those for larger exporters, yet income per contract is likely to be lower. The International Financial Institutions (IFIs) have played an increasingly active role in the area of export credit insurance and finance, but the extent and nature has varied significantly between individual IFIs. Helping to establish and support an ECA in the difficult early days has been recognized as an important role for IFIs. Moreover, IFIs can play a part in helping to address gaps in the availability of trade finance and working capital -especially for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)- which can exist and which can be helped by trade facilitation arrangements of various kinds. IFIs have been active in developing programs to assist in national and regional trade development and facilitation efforts. Access to and availability of appropriate financial tools, including export credit facilities, have been components of some of these efforts. IFIs, even with their relatively modest involvement in supporting the export credit field, have taken a variety of different approaches. With trade a key agenda item for IFIs, it seems inevitable that there will be a continuing and even growing focus on trade finance systems, including export credit schemes. Looking at the experience of other IFIs, it seems that the most successful facilities and initiatives were designed to meet specific rather than general objectives problems; and worked with existing market practices and documentation and did not seek to reinvent mechanisms or to apply unduly complicated documentation or practices.
Attracting Remittances: Market, Money and Reduced Costs
Authors: Orozco Manuel
Published: March 2024

Analysis of the market of remittances from the United States to nine Central American and Caribbean countries from the perspective of business practices. (Cuba, Colombia, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, El Salvador)
Changes in the Atmosphere?: Increase of Remittances, Price Decline and New Challenges
Authors: Orozco Manuel
Published: March 2024

This paper reports on the continued increase in remittances to Latin America, but also analyzes cost changes and the entry of new players, such as banks, into the Mexican market. The analysis looks at data on prices and exchange rates provided by over 100 money transfer institutions. This report will highlight some of the challenges posed to money senders and immigrant communities. In particular, two important issues emerge: the current effects of the regulations imposed by the U.S. Patriot Act of 2001; and the effect on the Latino community of the entry of banks into the remittance business.
Enrolling the Self-Employed in Mandatory Health Insurance in Colombia
Authors: Panopoulou Giota , García Prado Ariadna
Published: March 2024

The introduction of mandatory health insurance in developing countries is often questioned because of the difficulties in enrolling self-employed workers, who represent a segment of the labor force that is increasing in size. Partial population coverage, coupled with adverse selection effects, raises serious concerns about the financial viability of social health insurance schemes. Despite these difficulties, an increasing number of developing countries have implemented social health insurance schemes with the aim of attaining universal health coverage and improving access to health services. In Colombia, major health sector reform was launched in 1993 with the extension of mandatory social health insurance as its cornerstone. In this paper, we assess the impact that Colombia¿s health sector reform had on the enrollment of self-employed workers in the social health insurance scheme. We use two national-level Living Standards Measurement Surveys conducted in Colombia in 1997 and 2003, respectively, and find that health insurance enrollment rates among the self-employed increased considerably between the two time periods, although evidence of adverse selection observed in 1997 continued to be present in 2003. We identify several factors that may explain the change in these enrollment patterns, and we discuss measures to combat adverse selection.
Export Processing Zones and Other Special Regimes in the Context of Multilateral and Regional Trade Negotiations
Authors: Granados Jaime
Published: March 2024

Export processing zones and other special regimes will be subject to extensive regulatory reforms as a result of the progressive insertion of the countries into international economy. On the one hand commitments with the World Trade Organization (WTO) impose the elimination of export subsidies. On the other, regional integration schemes will generally exert pressure for the elimination of tariff reduction and other taxes on import goods or equipments, which are incorporated or used as export merchandise to trade partners under those schemes. The combined effect of these two trends has generated and will generate a substantial change in the operation mechanism of these special regimes. This document intends to explain these factors and some general scenarios on export processing zones and other special regimes.
Free Software and SMEs, A Perspective of the Future
Authors: Aguiar Campos Sérgio Vale
Published: March 2024

What is Free Software, Why Free Software , Disadvantages of Free Software, What's Missing in Free Software Today , The Metasys Solution
Integration and Trade in the Americas: 3rd EU-LAC Summit: Special Issue on Latin American and Caribbean Economic Relations with the European Union
Authors: Brenner Yann , Vodusek Ziga , Crawley Andrew , Ferrero Lucas , Vignoles Christopher , Covarrubias María de la Paz , Jessen Anneke
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this document is to inform Bank staff and other interested parties about recent developments in integration and trade among the countries of the Western Hemisphere and between these and other countries and world regions.
International Remittances and Development: Existing Evidence, Policies and Recommendations
Authors: Olmedo Alexandra , López Córdova José Ernesto
Published: March 2024

In this paper we survey the recent literature assessing the development impact of international migrant remittances. We begin by arguing that international migration should be fully incorporated in ongoing debates on the impact of globalization. We show that, despite methodological challenges, there is an emerging body of evidence suggesting that migrant remittances can have an important impact on development and household welfare. Remittances appear to help in poverty reduction, accumulation of human capital, investment and saving. Finally, we offer an account of existing policies and recommendations to facilitate remittance flows and to take advantage of their developmental potential.
MERCOSUR Report No. 11 (2005-2006)
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

In the context of a growing world economy, a steady demand for raw materials and a wealth of liquidity, the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR: Mercado Común del Sur) continues to expand. The macroeconomic indicators reveal a more solid bloc than last year, and growth is combined with lower vulnerability in the external sector, fiscal discipline and inflation at a historic low. Economic expansion in 2006 is estimated to be around 4.9%, similar to 2005 but below the group of emerging countries.
MERCOSUR Report No. 13 (2007-2008)
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

In spite of the international context affected by the financial and credit crisis triggered in the US mortgage market, integration of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) has continued to move forward, mainly in the internal agenda, where member countries reached certain agreements. In the period covered in this report (June 2007 to June 2008), trade volumes grew in an expanding context for the bloc¿s economies. On the external front, the negotiating dynamic has seen less tangible results. The worsening of the international financial crisis in the last quarter of 2008 creates an adverse context for the bloc¿s economies in the coming year. This scenario contemplates a downturn in world growth and a contraction of the main consumer markets, such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Below are the main conclusions of this 2007-2008 MERCOSUR Report.
MERCOSUR Report No. 14 (2008-2009)
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The period covered by MERCOSUR Report 14 (July 2008-June 2009) was marked by the international crisis. The inflationary phase of the crisis (August 2007-June 2008) fuelled certain expansionary trends in MERCOSUR countries. Once this phase had run its course, MERCOSUR¿s performance began to feel the negative effects of the world economy. As of the fourth quarter of 2008, the collapse of activity levels and global trade, falling commodity prices, and financing difficulties were reflected in recessionary trends within the bloc. However, as of March 2009, there were clear signs of stabilization in the world economy, if not of outright recovery. This marks a shift in the international scenario compared to the previous period.
MERCOSUR Report No. 2 (1997)
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

In the first half of 1997, MERCOSUR's macroeconomic situation was marked by two trends: first, improved performance in terms of output and inflation rates, in a context of relative fiscal fragility and external vulnerability; and second, convergence in the performance of the different countries, assuring the stability of real bilateral exchange rate parities.
MIF Project Cluster on Skills-Based Standards and Certification for the Tourism Sector
Authors:   KPMG LLP
Published: March 2024

In keeping with MIF objectives to pilot new, innovative approaches to strengthen human resources capital, the intent of all projects covered in this report is to develop a formal occupational skills standards, certification and credentialing system for the tourism sector.
Mobile Health: The Potential of Mobile Telephony to Bring Health Care to the Majority
Authors: Giuffrida Antonio , Anta Rafael , El-Wahab Shireen
Published: March 2024

This paper examines the current and emerging trends in mobile health, with particular emphasis on lessons learned and on potential opportunities for Latin America to apply mobile services to health care efforts to benefit the majority of people.
Program Evaluation and Spillover Effects
Authors: Angelucci Manuela , Di Maro Vincenzo
Published: March 2024

This note defines what spillover effects are, why it is important to measure them, and how to design an evaluation that will enable researchers to measure the impact of the program in the presence of spillover effects on subjects both eligible and ineligible for the program. Several practical examples are provided to show how spillover effects can be estimated.
Projects for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education: Conceptual Framework
Authors: Severin Eugenio
Published: March 2024

Incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into areas of education is no longer optional. Countries, regions and schools are driven to develop new initiatives that take into consideration the incorporation of these tools into teaching and learning processes, so that education systems can connect the society¿s new demands for knowledge with the new characteristics of the learners who are part of these systems. This document presents and describes a Conceptual Framework that endeavors to support the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of projects that aim to incorporate the use of ICTs for the purpose of improving the quality of education. It also presents a list of indicators that can aid in achieving this purpose if aligned with the Conceptual Framework itself. This work is part of the IDB-led initiative to develop, in tandem with other international organizations, a common Framework and Indicators that will lend support to decision making in different countries.
Review of International Best Practices of Programs to Promote Regional Innovation Systems
Authors: Pietrobelli Carlo
Published: March 2024

This paper has two main objectives. First, it aims at briefly reviewing the concept of Regional Innovation System (RIS) as it has been proposed in the literature, and especially in light of the use that this notion has often had for policy purposes. Second, it reviews considerable empirical evidence from developed and developing countries available in on-line databases, papers and project documents and reports, in order to start exploring some lessons learnt from experience, and their use for the design and implementation of future policy interventions.
The Relative Revealed Competitiveness of China's Exports to the United States vis á vis Other Countries in Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the OECD
Authors: Schott Peter K.
Published: March 2024

This paper compares the export competitiveness of China with that of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and of other developing countries in Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. Using endowment-driven trade theory as a guide, this assessment is made along two dimensions: the distribution of countries's export products to the United States and the distribution of export prices across countries within each product category.
The Trade and Cooperation Nexus: How Does the MERCOSUR-EU Process Measure Up?
Authors: Estevadeordal Antoni , Krivonos Ekaterina , Devlin Robert
Published: March 2024

The objective of this study is to analyze the interaction between trade and non-trade cooperation in some of the today's major regional initiatives, particularly those between developing and industrialized countries. The study suggests a framework to explore what the paper calls a "trade and cooperation nexus". The modalities of this nexus can take different forms. For instance, non-trade cooperation may be an integral part of a formal trade or integration agreement, or may take place independently of such an agreement, as an ex-ante, ex-post or parallel agreement. This paper analyzes the EU approach, which proposes an unusually tight trade and cooperation nexus based on a three-pillar approach uniting political, economic and trade cooperation under a single umbrella agreement. Theoretically this approach should be attractive, especially in North-South agreements, because the promise of linking free trade with cooperation programs could enhance the benefits of the former for both parties. However, while innovative, the nexus is challenging in its construction and delivery. The paper will explore EU efforts in this area in the broader context of what is happening in other North-South initiatives.
Trinidad and Tobago: Trade Performance and Policy Issues in an Era of Growing Liberalization
Authors: Vignoles Christopher , Jessen Anneke
Published: March 2024

Trade can be a powerful engine of growth. In today¿s global economy, where investment moves quickly across borders and continents, and trade barriers are rapidly coming down, a competitive exporter has much to gain. In an ever-more liberalized world economy, however, competition is also that much harsher, and only the best will capture the benefits of new markets and business opportunities. Particularly in small, open economies like that of Trinidad and Tobago, weak export performance can impair a country¿s development prospects. Export income is needed to pay for imports, to pay off foreign debt, and to maintain a healthy balance in a country¿s external accounts, all of which is needed to achieve sustainable levels of economic growth. Successful international insertion, through trade facilitation and related measures, should therefore be a central aim of the IDB¿s support strategy for its borrowing member countries, and particularly for the small island economies of the Caribbean.
Advances in the Strategies for Institutional Development and Financial Sustainability Related to Risk Management in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Lavell Allan M. , Cardona Omar D. , Mansilla Elizabeth , Moreno Álvaro M.
Published: March 2024

The present study was based on a short and intensive period of field work in four countries (El Salvador, Jamaica, Chile and Colombia) and analysis based on researcher knowledge, secondary sources and long distance consultations in Mexico, Costa Rica and Bolivia.
Guidelines for Conducting After Action Reviews
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Various Methodologies exist for facilitating systematic, collective reflexions of teams (workgroups) and for the identification of lessons learned. These methodologies include after action reviews (ARRs), case studies, and observations of experiences. This document presents guidelines for preparing, conducting, and documenting AARs.
International Remittances in Colombia
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Due to the growing importance of family remittance flows in the region, in mid-2004 the Centre for Latin American Monetary Studies (CEMLA) and the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) began designing a Project aimed at improving the statistical measurement of these flows. This Report is based on the findings of the Mission that visited Colombia in December 2006, formed by two teams that coordinated their work in the field of international remittances. This report on the remittance market in Colombia includes in depth: the economic context; the institutional and legal framework of this market; characteristics of the issuers, of the recipients and providers of remittances, the means and channels of payment; costs of remittance, disclosure, transparency and consumer protection, as well as the methodology for the measurement of these flows.
Capital Flows and Macroeconomic Policies in Emerging Economies
Authors: Agosin Manuel R.
Published: March 2024

This study deals with the appropriate macroeconomic policies toward international capital flows. It argues that countries in a position to integrate themselves into world capital markets should develop specific policies to deal with capital flows. This paper first shows that foreign capital inflows are not only larger and more volatile but also that their effects on key macroeconomic variables are much stronger in emerging developing countries than in developed countries. Next, the two opposing paradigms regarding capital flows are discussed in detail. Then, a simple classical open economy macroeconomic model is presented as a benchmark against which to analyze the effects of unfettered capital flows. According to this model (which is the basis of conventional advice), there is nothing that policy makers need to do about capital flows, but to follow sound domestic macroeconomic policies. But once the key assumptions of the model are dropped, the effects of capital flows that one can observe in reality begin to emerge. Appropriate conclusions can then be derived.