bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ideas for Development in the Americas (IDEA): Volume 19 : May-August, 2009: Latin America in Today's Crisis
Authors: Izquierdo Alejandro ,   Inter American Development Bank, Funaro Rita
Published: March 2024

This issue of IDEA looks at the most likely scenarios facing Latin America today, including the policy prescriptions and multilateral support programs available to confront the global crisis. Given a financial crisis in which liquidity issues are front and center, it makes the case that a slow global recovery may pose challenges for the region that are far from trivial.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 8 : December, 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 December issue, REVELA reports that although we are at the end of 2007, expectations of growth and inflation for this year continue to change. 2007 Growth expectations increased in eight countries and the ones for 2008 increased in five countries, principally in Costa Rica and Uruguay. The average expected growth rate is now 4.95% for 2008. Inflation expectations however continue to move up for most countries surveyed for both years 2007 and 2008. The expected average rate of inflation for 2008 for the countries surveyed rose from 6.78% to 7.27%. Indeed in no country surveyed did expectations for inflation for 2008 fall.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No 229: September, 2015
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 Connection: No 231: November, 2015
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 235: March, 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.
Integration & Trade Journal: Volume 21: No. 41: March, 2017: Eco Integration in Latin America: Ideas Inspired by the Encyclical Laudato Si'
Authors: Edenhofer Ottmar , Valdés Alberto , Sugathan Mahesh , Zamagni Stefano , González Arancha , Sánchez Sorondo Marcelo , Calvo Cristina , Conte Grand Mariana , Kolstad Charles , Stern Nicholas , Caffera Marcelo , Letouzé Emmanuel , Michaelowa Axel , Fernández Víctor , Sangokoya David , Alpízar Francisco , Maskin Eric , Terraza Horacio , Schultes Anselm , Martínez-Zarzoso Inmaculada , Corderi David , Espinosa Patricia , Beliz Gustavo , Ricard Julie , Barbero José A. , Rabassa Mariano , Figueres Christiana , Estevadeordal Antoni , Madrigal Róger , Campos Sergio , Cienfuegos Rodrigo , Sterner Thomas , Yépez-García Ariel
Published: March 2024

Inspired by the encyclical Laudato Si', by Pope Francis, Nobel prizes and world experts pose concrete options for advancing in a regional eco-integration where social and environmental dimension of development are priorities. The commitments made to mitigate climate change at the Paris and Marrakesh summits require the cooperation of different nations in a joint effort to counteract global warming. Latin America has an enormous natural wealth that represents an opportunity, but also a great responsibility: to protect the planet and at the same time find ways to reduce the inequities that characterize the region. The new edition of IDB-INTAL Integration & Trade Journal offers creative measures, analyzes the governance challenges offered by the current scenario, describes sustainable models of trade, examines the impact of climate change and draws bridges to advance in an integral ecology where humanism became the engine of civilization.
Environmental Economics for Evidence Based Policy: Vol. 1, No. 1: IEEM: A New Natural Capital-Based Decision Making Platform
Authors: Banerjee Onil
Published: March 2024

This first edition to the new series entitled "Environmental Economics for Evidence Based Policy" presents the Integrated Economic-Environmental Modeling (IEEM) Platform as a state of the art decision making framework. IEEM is the first forward-looking platform that integrates natural capital accounts and enables us to ask 'what if' questions to estimate how the economy and environment are impacted by public policy and investment alternatives.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No. 196: December, 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. 189: May 2012
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This document is about CARICOM, SIECA stresses Central American trade dynamism, SIECA, launches Regional Quality Infrastructure and SPS Systems in Central, Andean CommunityProgress in Andean countries¿ regional agreements.
INTAL Monthly Newsletter: No 217: September, 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 222: February, 2015
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.
Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA): No. 4 : August, 2007
Authors: Salazni Mariana , Powell Andrew , Martínez Juan Francisco
Published: March 2024

Revelation of Expectations in Latin America (REVELA) is a monthly publication published by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Research Department (RES). The data comes from surveys of market participants conducted by Central Banks in Latin America. This document analyzes differences in market expectations for growth and inflation across countries and determines trends over time. This August issue of REVELA reports that expectations for 2007 growth rose in four countries, most significantly in Brazil, where 2007 growth is now expected to be 4.64%, compared to 4.38% last month. Inflation expectations for 2007 increased in most countries surveyed, especially in Bolivia, where they rose from 6.47% to 7.20%. In Chile, inflation expectations continued to rise even after last month's significant increase and are now 4.8%, compared to 4.1% in July.
How Safe Are Caribbean Homes for Women and Children?: Attitudes toward Intimate Partner Violence and Corporal Punishment
Authors: Sutton Heather , Álvarez Lucciana
Published: March 2024

This policy brief uses data from the 2014/2015 Latin American Public Opinion Project survey to examine attitudes toward intimate partner violence and child physical discipline in six Caribbean countries. Although Latin America has a reputation for a particularly macho culture, Caribbean adults were 10.8 percent more likely to tolerate a man beating his wife if she neglects the household chores and 5.7 percent more likely to if she is unfaithful. Characteristics of those who were more tolerant of intimate partner violence included being lower income, younger, resident of a rural area, and not completing secondary education. Similarly, those who say it is necessary to physically punish children in the Caribbean - and those who experienced physical punishment frequently themselves - were more prevalent than in Latin American countries. Experiencing frequent physical punishment during childhood was found to be a statistically significant correlate of male tolerance of intimate partner violence after controlling for other individual characteristics. Policy options to prevent intimate partner violence and childhood violence are examined.
Efectos de los Fondos de Pensiones Obligatorias y de Disposiciones del Banco Central Sobre el Mercado de Derivados y la Volatilidad Cambiaria en Colombia
Authors: Arbeláez María Angélica , Steiner Roberto
Published: March 2024

Analiza aspectos del funcionamiento del mercado cambiario colombiano. Detalla la participación de los Fondos de Pensiones Obligatorias, se calcula un indicador de trading y se analiza el posible impacto de la regulación sobre la actividad de los Fondos de Pensiones Obligatorias en dicho mercado. Determina el efecto de diversas medidas del Banco de la República relativas a la Posición Propia, la Posición Propia de Contado y la Posición Bruta de Apalancamiento sobre el mercado de derivados cambiarios. Asimismo, realiza una comparación de la volatilidad del peso colombiano con la de otras monedas y con la volatilidad del índice de la Bolsa de Valores de Colombia.
Consecuencias del aumento del impuesto al tabaco en Chile en el año 2010
Authors: Escobar Liliana , Arpón Paula , Bitrán Ricardo
Published: March 2024

Este estudio proyecta las consecuencias futuras de un aumento en el impuesto específico al tabaco, adoptado por el gobierno de Chile en marzo del 2010. El estudio usa la técnica de microsimulación, datos de encuestas de hogares, epidemiológicos y de gasto en salud para calcular la recaudación fiscal adicional asociada al alza tributaria y los cambios en la prevalencia del tabaquismo, en la demanda por cigarrillos y en el gasto de los hogares en tabaco. Los resultados prevén un aumento en la recaudación tributaria anual de 44,4 millones de dólares, cifra que representa sólo un 15% de la mayor recaudación que estimó el gobierno de Chile.
Reformas legales e institucionales en la implementación de acuerdos comerciales: la experiencia chilena
Authors: Novoa Rodrigo , Tomic Esteban
Published: March 2024

Chile, hace ya más de tres décadas, optó por una economía abierta, competitiva y orientada al libre comercio, disciplinada en el acatamiento de las normativas internacionales y con una política comercial compatible con la rigurosidad en la gestión macroeconómica.
El manejo de los ingresos fiscales del cobre en Chile
Authors: Borensztein Eduardo , Piedrabuena Bernardita , Ossowski Rolando , Mercer-Blackman Valerie , Miller Sebastián J.
Published: March 2024

El manejo adecuado de los ingresos fiscales por Recursos Naturales No Renovables (RNNR) busca cumplir tres objetivos: evitar la desestabilización macroeconómica, redistribuir equitativamente la riqueza minera entre la generación presente y las futuras, y promover la diversificación económica. En el caso de Chile, desde 1987 se adoptó una política de manejo sistemático de los ingresos fiscales por cobre. En 2001 dicha política que fue perfeccionada y complementada con una regla fiscal comprensiva que consideraba adicionalmente el manejo de los ingresos fiscales no ligados a la minería. Estas políticas fueron exitosas en eliminar la correlación del crecimiento del gasto público con los ingresos por cobre, terminando con la desestabilización macroeconómica producida por una política fiscal cuyo gasto público reaccionaba a los efectos cíclicos del cobre. Además, estas políticas permitieron que Chile redujera significativamente su deuda pública y acumulara activos a largo plazo en un fondo soberano. Algunos desafíos persisten, entre los que cabe mencionar los referentes a la operatoria de la regla, el tratamiento de los gastos por reinversiones de CODELCO y sus costos operativos. En lo referente al marco institucional, la simpleza y transparencia de la regla podría mejorarse, incluyendo la publicación ex ante de las fórmulas utilizada para los cálculos, y la publicación de las estadísticas necesarias para la replicación de los cálculos. Alternativamente, se podría optar por calcular el flujo estructural hacia el fisco de la riqueza del cobre y establecer dicho flujo como ingreso estructural proveniente del cobre.
Fortaleciendo las capacidades presupuestarias de los Parlamentos en América Latina y el Caribe
Authors: Santiso Carlos , Varea Marco
Published: March 2024

En la última década, los Parlamentos han mostrado cada vez más interés y han tenido más protagonismo en el proceso presupuestario al demandar mayor información sobre el desempeño del gobierno en su gestión de los recursos públicos. Sin embargo, en América Latina y el Caribe los Parlamentos evidencian desafíos para intervenir en el proceso presupuestario y las políticas fiscales. Su capacidad de incidencia en materia presupuestaria -y más generalmente en la política fiscal y la gestión financiera pública- está inhibida no sólo por la naturaleza centralizada de los procesos presupuestarios, sino también por la falta de capacidad técnica e institucional de los propios Parlamentos en el ejercicio de sus potestades presupuestarias. Este resumen de políticas sostiene que la creación de oficinas o instituciones independientes de análisis fiscal en los Parlamentos puede contribuir a fortalecer su efectividad y responsabilidad en los procesos presupuestarios. Varios países de la región han creado o están considerando crear este tipo de mecanismos. Estas oficinas pueden contribuir a consolidar al Parlamento como un interlocutor competente y constructivo para los Ministerios de Finanzas y reducir el déficit de capacidad y de credibilidad de los Poderes Legislativos en materia presupuestaria a través de una serie de efectos, entre los cuales destacan una mayor simetría en la información fiscal; la simplificación de la información fiscal y el fortalecimiento de la calidad del análisis presupuestario; un debate presupuestario más efectivo; y una mayor alineación de incentivos entre los poderes. Esta publicación analiza las condiciones para la creación y sostenibilidad de estas oficinas, evalúa la efectividad de estas innovaciones institucionales y sopesa las lecciones de la experiencia reciente de varios países de la región. Se concluye que los Parlamentos pueden fortalecer su incidencia en materia presupuestaria no necesariamente aumentando sus poderes presupuestarios, sino mejorando sus capacidades institucionales para ejercerlos de manera más efectiva y responsable.
Inversiones públicas y reglas fiscales
Authors: Rasteletti Alejandro , Pineda Emilio , Hernaiz Daniel
Published: March 2024

Este documento analiza las ventajas y desventajas de utilizar reglas fiscales que no consideren la inversión pública en las metas establecidas. El documento también presenta la experiencia internacional en la aplicación de este tipo de reglas. Del documento se concluye que si bien existen importantes ventajas de utilizar reglas fiscales que no consideren la inversión pública, las mismas pueden generar incentivos que atentan contra la sostenibilidad fiscal. Este riesgo puede mitigarse mediante la solidificación del proceso de selección de inversiones públicas, con el fin de garantizar que los proyectos realizados posean elevadas tasas de retorno. El riesgo de insostenibilidad fiscal también podría verse reducido mediante la introducción de una regla fiscal adicional que limite la evolución de la deuda pública.
Ingresos fiscales por explotación de hidrocarburos en Ecuador
Authors: Ortiz María , Cueva Armijos Simón
Published: March 2024

El crecimiento de la economía mundial y el aumento de los precios internacionales de los productos básicos o commodities han dado lugar a un mayor dinamismo en las actividades extractivas en los países ricos en este tipo de bienes. En Ecuador, el sector petrolero ha desempeñado un rol importante en el incremento de los ingresos fiscales, y su marco institucional ha sido modificado significativamente. Este documento describe el marco institucional en el cual se recaudan y distribuyen los recursos por explotación de hidrocarburos en Ecuador, incluyendo los cambios regulatorios relacionados con el tema, la evolución de los mecanismos de distribución y del entorno institucional correspondiente, y el impacto que sobre los ingresos fiscales tienen las variaciones de los precios internacionales del petróleo.
Projeto Cultura e Desenvolvimento: Economia Criativa para Geração de Trabalho e Renda
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Relatório confeccionado na Festa dos Pescadores no Povoado Mato do Crasto nos dias 26 e 27 de setembro de 2009, cujo principal objetivo foi a coleta dados primários sobre os usos dos espaços e das práticas socioculturais da referida celebração, mediante uso da observação direta, entrevistas e registro iconográfico.
Getting Results in Housing: A Framework for Monitoring Results in Housing Projects: Using Measurable Indicators
Authors: Jacobs Michael , Angel Shlomo
Published: March 2024

The aim of this paper is to help project teams develop results indicators for housing projects. These indicators are intended, primarily, as an instrument for managing projects and should help staff in the country offices, in headquarters and in executing agencies to identify the components of a project that are working as intended, and the ones that may need attention to keep the project on track. Additionally, the indicators can provide a foundation for project evaluations, at the mid-term or upon completion of the project.
Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America: Overview and Current Status
Authors: Tittle Martin B. , Avi-Yonah Reuven S.
Published: March 2024

This paper gives an overview and current status of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America. It discusses the competition among the countries for FDI based on tax considerations and how this competition often contrasts the standards set in the World Trade Organization.
Subnational Development Strategy
Authors: Llisterri Juan J. , Rojas Eduardo , Losada Carlos , Stein Ernesto H. , Payne J. Mark , Febres Jorge , Echebarría Koldo , Dowers Kenroy , Vives Antonio
Published: March 2024

This paper discusses the need for a Bank subnational development strategy. The subnational development strategy provides the Bank with a comprehensive framework to support borrowing member countries in their efforts to promote socioeconomic development through the devolution of responsibilities and resources to subnational governments.
Integration and Trade in the Americas: A Preliminary Estimate of 2003 Trade
Authors: Shearer Matthew , Vignoles Christopher , Covarrubias María de la Paz , Cornejo Rafael , Jessen Anneke
Published: March 2024

Total Western Hemisphere exports to the world increased by 5 percent in 2003, according to preliminary estimates by the IDB's Integration, Trade and Hemispheric Issues Division. This marks a reversal of a two-year trend that saw exports from the hemisphere decline by more than 9 percent between 2000-2002.
Achievements, Prospects and Challenges of Hemispheric Cooperation
Authors: Iannelli Norberto
Published: March 2024

The greater openness of developing countries¿ economies and the free trade agreements negotiated in recent years have spurred arguments in favor of greater integration in the world; they have also given rise to strong opposition. In some cases the opposition stems from the reaction of specific, domestically oriented sectoral interests, and in others from the activism of groups adhering to what has been termed "globophobia". Regrettably, the implementation of the Hemispheric Cooperation Program (HCP) has been constrained by the paralysis of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations, and thus has been extremely slow. Although the future of the HCP process is unclear, the experience to date in the Hemisphere provides a sufficient basis to analyze its origin and peculiarities, as well as its chief difficulties and determinants. The bilateral negotiations between the United States and Central America, the Dominican Republic and the Andean countries also provide important input for the analysis in this study, and the lessons learned can be very helpful to ensuring the successful implementation of the HCP.
Central American Report No. 3 (2004-2006)
Authors: Vázques Daniel , Ramos Martínez Alejandro , Gayá Romina , Vodusek Ziga , Granados Jaime , Rojas Hayes Carolina Mary
Published: March 2024

In 2004-2006, Central America made significant efforts to complete its free trade area (FTA), further itsCustoms Union (CU) and launch the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free TradeAgreement (DR-CAFTA). There have been several breakthroughs on the road to economic union, but theprocess is still only at the halfway stage. The subregion¿s political forces are in agreement over the needto intensify the integration dynamic and move it forward. Yet, in the course of this work, significantlimitations have emerged.
Fear of China: Is there a Future for Manufacturing in Latin America?
Authors: Mesquita Moreira Mauricio
Published: March 2024

China¿s emergence has raised pointed questions about the future of manufacturing in Latin America. This paper looks at this challenge and its implications. It begins by asking: Does manufacturing still matter for Latin America? It argues that the region cannot afford to turn its back to a well-proven road to development. It then moves on to show that endowments, productivity, scale and the government¿s role, all work together to make China a formidable competitor. The importance of this challenge is confirmed by an analysis of the trade data, which suggests a small impact so far, but a disquieting trend.
Financial Market Development: Support from the Inter-American Development Bank Group 1990-2002
Authors: Durante Juan José , Moreno Paul
Published: March 2024

IDB Group involvement and support in the reform, modernization and deepening of financial markets in Latin America and the Caribbean targets banking intermediation, capital markets, insurance markets, pension systems, housing finance, and debt reduction.
Latin American Immigrant Remittances by States in the United States
Authors:   Bendixen and Amandi,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Results and analysis of a poll of major remittance senders and charts of the origin of remittances by state in the continental United States.
Negotiating Market Access between the European Union and MERCOSUR: Issues and Prospects
Authors: Estevadeordal Antoni , Krivonos Ekaterina
Published: March 2024

The European Union (EU) and MERCOSUR are the largest and most influential regions, both by population and in terms of size of the economy, of their respective continents. The renewed priority given to biregional cooperation launched by the Inter-Regional Framework Agreement signed in 1995 is based on deep historical, political, economic and cultural links between the two regions. The potential advantages of an agreement that will foster a process of dynamic cooperation are enormous, ranging from political influence to economic returns, including the gains from comparative advantage, expanding markets, improved environment for investments, and positive spillovers on human and social capital, democracy, and justice. A free trade agreement between the two regions should also be evaluated in the context of the new regionalism initiatives taking place around the world, in particular the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations and the process of enlargement and deepening of the two regional blocs. The objective of this paper is to offer an X-ray of the current status of existing market access provisions both in MERCOSUR and the EU. This is an important and necessary first step to identify the key issues facing market access negotiators from the very outset of the negotiations. As has already been agreed during the first meeting of the European Union - Mercosur Biregional Negotiations Committee, one of the first tasks of the Technical Group charged with market access issues will be the exchange of information in the areas of tariff and non-tariff measures. This initial exchange of information among negotiating parties usually plays a key role in the overall formulation of each party's negotiating strategy. This paper attempts, using mostly secondary sources and data compiled by international agencies, to take a seat at the negotiating table and provide the best snapshot possible of the situation. In this regard, it is important to stress that the information used and analyzed in this paper should not be taken in any way as the official picture of the market access profiles of each region.
Public Opinion Study of Remittance Recipients in Brazil
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Results and analysis of a poll in Brazil of remittance recipients
Regional Public Goods in Official Development Assistance
Authors: Ferroni Marco
Published: March 2024

This paper seeks to review the demand, and the case, for regional public goods in the light of growing integration; to report on the response of certain international organizations and the system of official development assistance to perceived growth in the demand for these goods; and to analyze the challenges of financing regional public goods. The paper is premised on the notion of complementarity between national and regional policies, the latter being seen as complements to, not substitutes for, the former.
Program for Application of General Principles for Latin American and Caribbean Remittance Markets: Guatemala
Authors:   Center for Latin American Monetary Studies,   World Bank,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Guatemala - Final public report about the Program for application of general principles for Latin American and Caribbean remittance market
On the Determinants of Chilean Economic Growth
Authors: Chumacero Rómulo A. , Fuentes J. Rodrigo
Published: March 2024

This paper is part of the project "Explaining Economic Growth Performance" launched by the Global Development Network (GDN). The purpose of this project is to explain economic growth performances across seven regions of the world. This paper provides a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the main factors behind Chilean growth: the main characteristics that made economic performance so average through the 1960s, so sensitive to the two major international crises in the early 1970s and early 1980s, and so simulative to growth rates and dampening to volatility from the mid-1980s onward. The first section looks at the history for the period under analysis. The next section uses a growth accounting exercise to approximate Total Factor Productivity (TFP). The results from that exercise are then used to conduct a multivariate time series analysis that includes several measures of economic distortions to assess which are important determinants (or consequences) of Chile's economic performance. Features found to be relevant are then incorporated into a model that attempts to quantify the growth effects of several shocks. Finally, the last section summarizes the main analytic conclusions and draws policy implications.
Economic Growth in Paraguay
Authors: Fernández Valdovinos Carlos G. , Monge Naranjo Alexander
Published: March 2024

This paper will examine the Paraguayan growth experience since the early 1960slooking at different periods to try to identify the main factors behind particular levels performance. Studying the determinants of growth is particularly important for a country like Paraguay that just recently recovered the most basic political rights and is still trying to consolidate its gain by building effective democratic institutions. Thus far the positive political trend has not been accompanied by economic growth and less poverty. This paper is part of the project "Explaining Economic Growth Performance" launched by the Global Development Network (GDN). The purpose of this project is to explain economic growth performances across seven regions of the world.
Analysis of Research Department's Activities and the Work of the Bank: SIS - Social Information System
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The Social Information System (SIS) can be defined as a suitable database that uses primary statistics from ongoing household income surveys in member countries and from MECOVI. The primary objective of this study (RE-254) is to analyze the use of SIS by different Bank departments. The analysis draws on interviews and available information in order to determine the system's impact on the design of social projects that utilize such information, and to ascertain whether the SIS's present format has affected the way in which the Operations Departments plan their project preparation schedules. The principal issues examined in this short-term study are demand, relevance, comparative cost of obtaining similar information, and the complementarities of this information system with others supplying similar data.
Impact Evaluation of PROJoven Youth Labor Training Program in Peru
Authors: Rosas-Shady David
Published: March 2024

This document constitutes a comprehensive evaluation of the "Youth Labor Training Program" (PROJOVEN) which was designed by the IDB in 1996 through a technical cooperation and later financed by the Peruvian government. This report presents the basic information about the original program: the context under it was developed, the basic design features (inputs, outputs, outcomes) and the underlying model. The report also analyses the ongoing program, PE0241. Particularly, the emphasis is put on the analysis of the main modifications that were introduced to the original design.
Facing the Challenges of Sustainable Development: The IDB and the Environment: 1992-2002
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) welcomes the opportunity that the World Summit on Sustainable Development offers the development community to reflect on regional trends and the major challenges facing our member countries in environmental sustainability. The IDB prepared this document with a particular focus on the environment and this document sets forth the essential elements of the institution's environment strategy in order to obtain feedback from the development community gathered in Johannesburg on the occasion of this milestone for global sustainability.
Benefits and Costs of Electronic Medical Records: The Experience of Mexico's Social Security Institute
Authors: Humpage Sarah D.
Published: March 2024

Electronic medical record (EMR) systems are increasingly used in developing countries to improve quality of care while increasing efficiency. There is little systematic evidence, however, regarding EMRs' benefits and costs. This case study documents the implementation and use of an EMR system at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Three EMR systems are now in operation for primary care, outpatient and inpatient hospital care. The evidence suggests that the primary care system has improved efficiency of care delivery and human resources management, and may have decreased incidence of fraud. The hospital systems, however, have lower coverage and are less popular among staff. The greater success of the primary care system may be due to greater investment, a participatory development process, an open workplace culture, and software appropriately tailored to the workflow. Moving forward, efforts should be made to exploit data housed in EMRs for medical and policy research.
Technical Guidelines for Evaluating the Impacts of Tourism Using Simulation Models
Authors: Taylor J. Edward
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this guideline is to make practitioners aware of simulation approaches for the evaluation of tourism projects. Simulation approaches are particularly useful when experimental or economic approaches for project evaluation are not feasible. For example, it usually is not possible to roll out a tourism-promotion program for a randomly chosen "treatment group" while excluding the program's benefits for a "control group" at the tourist destination. The guideline explains why a simulation approach is useful for tourism impact analysis, what a simulation model for the economic analysis of tourism impacts looks like, and data requirements. With the help of an illustrative two-island model, the guideline shows how to construct different kinds of simulation models and how to use simulations to quantify the costs and benefits of tourism and tourism projects. The guideline concludes by discussing some specific IDB projects in which this methodology has been used for tourism impact analysis. The primary goal of this paper is to make development practitioners aware of simulation approaches for tourism impact analysis and of how to integrate these approaches into their project proposals, budgets, and terms of reference for expert consultants.
IDB Group Support to the Small and Medium Enterprise Sector (1990-2002): Achievements, Lessons and Challenges
Authors: Angelelli Pablo , Guaipatín Carlos , Almeyda-Stemper Gloria , Llisterri Juan J.
Published: March 2024

Small and medium enterprises are estimated to account for at least 10 percent of the number of total businesses in most Latin American countries and between 20-40 percent of total employment. In the 1990's, 30 percent of new jobs were created by SMEs. Small companies have played a major role in developing clusters and productive chains that can compete in international markets and also show great potential for innovation and support for technological development. This technical report summarizes the achievements, lessons, and challenges of IDB Group operations over the period 1990-2002. As a regional development organization, the IDB Group (which includes the Inter-American Development Bank, the Inter-American Investment Corporation, and the Multilateral Investment Fund) has worked with governments and the private sector to overcome SME deficiencies and explore alternatives to maximize SME development across the region.
Insurance for the Poor?
Authors: Dercon Stefan , Calvo César , Bold Tessa
Published: March 2024

This study was prepared for the Financial Services and Poverty Reduction research project and was presented at the conference with the same name held at Bank headquarters in September of 2004. It first establishes the considerable welfare cost borne by the region's poor when facing uncovered risks (which, in principle, are insurable), and offers empirical evidence that shows the clear disadvantages of the informal risk management instruments typically used by the poor. Next, the paper proposes ways to increase access to insurance for the poor in the region. Particularly relevant, among the proposed solutions, is the implementation of the partner-agent model in which formal insurance institutions are coupled with existing microfinance institutions for the delivery of their products, making the most of the comparative advantages of each sector.
Technical Guide for the Analysis of Microenterprise Financial Institutions
Authors: Flaming Mark , Holtmann Martin , Mommartz Rochus
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this technical guide is to provide a standard format for the analysis of institutions that provide financial services to the microenterprise sector. The technical guide outlines the appropriate techniques and scope of analysis for evaluating and designing programs of support to specialized financial institutions. The analytical techniques presented in this guide are structured to facilitate the process of institutional analysis and project design represented in the diagram below. The analytical framework applied in this technical guide is comprised of two basic components. The first part of the analysis, described in chapters 1 through 5, is dedicated to deriving a series of quantitative performance indicators that measure the performance of the institution. The investigation begins with an analysis of financial performance in order to derive general indicators regarding the sustainability of the institution. Credit operations are then analyzed in order to identify sources of inefficiency. The investigation concludes with an assessment of the impact of the credit services on the institution's clients.
Retail Competition in Electricity
Authors: Fuente Carmen , Beato Paulina
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the issues involved when introducing consumer choice into the power sector. Section 1 describes the approaches used by several countries to introduce tetail competition. Section 2 describes the forces that are pushing consumer choice and retail competition. Section 3 discusses the features of a general model for retail competition. Section 4 discusses different proposals for introducing consumer choice. Section 5 evaluates the retail competition model. Section 6 discusses the challenges of retail companies.
Cost of Adolescent Childbearing: A Review of Evidence from Chile, Barbados, Guatemala and Mexico
Authors: Buvinic Mayra
Published: March 2024

Does early childbearing restrict women's social and economic opportunities? These questions are explored by examining the effects, first on marital status and family formation, and second on women's employment options, earnings and poverty condition. The four studies presented here (from Chile, Barbados, Guatemala and Mexico) include controls for background variables and the timing of the consequences of observations. The review describes gross differences that emerged in the studies and explores how much the observed differences were due to background factors associated with adolescent childbearing, including poverty, which is a potentially large confounding variable in developing economies. The presence of sizable poverty and the nature of women's economic participation provide the common ground to assess consequences of adolescent childbearing in countries that otherwise iffer considerable in the cultural circumstances surrounding family formation and childbearing.
Core Labor Standards and Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean: Does Lax Enforcement of Labor Standards Attract Investors?
Authors: Mazza Jacqueline , Morrison Andrew , Daude Christian
Published: March 2024

This paper estimates the impact of the enforcement of core labor standards on FDI in the region and contains the following: 1) Introduction; 2) Survey of the literature on the determinants of FDI: theoretical models, empirical estimation of the determinants of FDI, and the few studies that have examined specifically the links between core labor standards and FDI; 3) Description of data used in this study and explanation of the authors' decision to use sectorally-disaggregated bilateral flows of FDI from the U.S. and Japan as their dependent variable; 4) Details of the methodology used in estimations; 5) Results of the study; 6) Conclusions.
The Use of Effective Coverage in the Evaluation of Maternal and Child Health Programs: A Technical Note for the IDB's Social Protection and Health Division
Authors: Colston Josh
Published: March 2024

Effective coverage is a measure of health system performance that combines three aspects of health care service delivery into a single measure: need, use, and quality. In this technical note, the concept of effective coverage is explained, methodological issues are discussed and the implications for the evaluation of SPH's projects in maternal and child health are presented.
Building Effective Banking Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Corrigan E. Gerald
Published: March 2024

This study discusses staple reforms in banking systems in Latin America and the Caribbean to improve their effectiveness. The paper identifies the main problems countries have been experiencing with banking systems, triggered by large credit losses. The direct and indirect costs of banking sector crises have been astonishingly high. The author holds that while the symptoms and costs of banking sector problems are widely recognized, the magnitude of the remedial task is often significantly underestimated. The author then makes a series of observations to keep in mind: First, the acute and costly nature of the problem in most developing countries primarily reflects a host of historical institutional weaknesses that severely complicate the relationships between creditors and debtors; Second, under the best of circumstances, it will take a number of years to remedy these institutional problems, Third, building progressive and profitable banking systems in these countries will entail a mix of short-term and longer-term initiatives on the part of the banks, the authorities and the governments at large, as well as enlightened support and leadership from the international community.
Gender Inequality in Health and Work: The Case of Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Giuffrida Antonio , Glassman Amanda , Buvinic Mayra
Published: March 2024

This technical paper reviews existing empirical evidence to track the effects of women's paid work on their own and their children's health in Latin America and the Caribbean. It begins with a brief description of the changing nature of labor markets and women's labor force participation. It then explores women's occupational health risks and mentions some initiatives that seek to respond to these risks. The next part of the report looks at the existing evidence for the positive effects of paid work on women's health and child health. The paper ends with policy recommendations.
Targeted Human Development Programs: Investing in the Next Generation
Authors: Regalia Ferdinando , Legovini Arianna
Published: March 2024

Targeted Human Development Programs (THDPs) are integrated poverty reduction programs designed to increase the capacity of the poor to accumulate human capital. The programs are directed primarily to poor and vulnerable families with pre-school and school-age children. Their main long-term objective is to eradicate the structural causes of poverty by fostering investment in the next generation's human capital. A secondary objective is to alleviate poverty in the short term, mainly through monetary transfers. This report sets out the motivation for implementing THDPs and step-by-step instructions for design and implementation. It describes the implementation of impact evaluation mechanisms and results that can be expected and offers a list of appropriate country conditions for a THDP. A model logical framework for a THDP operation is presented in the Annex of this report.
Equalizing Opportunities for Human Development (in One Country)
Authors: Roemer John E.
Published: March 2024

This study develops a framework to investigate the optimal allocation of a country's fiscal resources to help equalize opportunities for human development. The author argues that the proper role for policy is the pursuit of equality of opportunities as opposed to equality of outcomes. Because outcomes reflect the combination of a person's socioeconomic background and effort, the role of public policy is then to equate results conditional on effort. A stylized model formalizes this argument and provides insights on policy rules to equalize opportunities within a one country framework. The paper provides interesting reflections on political economy issues and suggests extending the framework to provide guidance to development institutions on the optimal allocation of lending resources across member countries with different socioeconomic conditions as to equate their opportunities.
Working Within Confines: Occupational Segregation by Gender in Three Latin American Countries
Authors: Piras Claudia , Deutsch Ruthanne , Ñopo Hugo R. , Morrison Andrew
Published: March 2024

Latin America has the dubious distinction of being the region with the highest level of occupational segregation in the world. In this context, this study poses four important questions. Has occupational segregation by sex decreased in the 1990s? Can we expect occupational segregation to decline as economic development occurs? To what extent does gender segregation explain the male-female wage gap? Are gender differences in employment opportunities especially injurious to poorly educated women, or are all women equally affected? By analyzing each of these questions, this study of gender-based occupational segregation in three countries of Latin America -Costa Rica, Ecuador and Uruguay- constitutes valuable reference material for policy-makers, researchers and activists interested in the advancement of equality between men and women.
Searching for Essential Health Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of Recent Studies on Health Priorities
Authors: Bobadilla José Luis
Published: March 2024

The main focus of this paper is the application of explicit criteria to set health priorities in lending projects and sector work. It draws lessons from 24 studies undertaken in low- and middle-income countries from 1993 to 1996. The paper describes the main characteristics of the studies, assesses their technical quality and policy relevance, and summarizes the first two stages which culminated with the publication of the 1993 World Development Report: Investing in Health (World Bank 1993). The paper is organized into six chapters: Chapter I summarizes the logic behind setting health priorities and briefly reviews their antecedents through explicit criteria. Chapter II describes the main characteristics of the studies. Chapters III and IV focus on the evaluation of information, methods and indicators to set priorities and design packages of essential health services. Chapter V reports on the main disease priorities and the results of cost effectiveness analyzes. Finally, and lastly, Chapter VI identifies research and development needs to improve future studies.
Appraising Workfare Programs
Authors: Ravallion Martin
Published: March 2024

Workfare programs aim to reduce poverty by providing low-wage work to those who need it. They are often turned to in a crisis when there is no time for a rigorous evaluation. This paper offers some simple analytic tools for a rapid ex-ante appraisal of an existing workfare program. For pedagogic purposes, the two programs studied are stylized versions of a range of actual programs found in practice. One is for a middle-income country, the other a low-income country. The cost of a $1 gain to the poor is about $2.50 in both cases, though the same gain in current earnings would cost 50 percent to 100 percent more. The rapid appraisal also suggests how design changes might enhance the benefits to the poor.
2011: Climate Change: Latin America and the Caribbean: Risks for the Microfinance Sector and Opportunities for Adaptation
Authors: Mommens Xavier , Gutierrez María Elena
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this study is to show how microfinance services may undergo the impacts of climate change, to analyze the opportunities available for MFIs and to propose concrete actions. This paper was commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in coordination with the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Unit (ECC) and the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), and it was prepared on the basis of bibliographic reviews, experience in the Latin American region, and interviews that were carried out during missions in Peru and Guatemala.
Innovation, Employment and Skills in Advanced and Developing Countries: A Survey of the Literature
Authors: Vivarelli Marco
Published: March 2024

This paper critically discusses the theoretical and empirical literature on the quantitative and qualitative employment impact of technological change, compares the relative explanatory power of the competing theories, and explains in detail the macro and micro evidence on the issue, with reference both to the advanced economies and the developing countries (DCs).