bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Renewable Energy Laws in Expanding Energy from Non-Traditional Renewables
Authors: Henderson Heath , McCarthy Nancy
Published: March 2024

Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are interested in diversifying their energy sources for energy security and in contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases. Non-traditional renewable energy (NTRE) sources, which include wind, solar, geothermal and small-scale hydropower, have received a lot of attention towards meeting these goals. To foster the expansion of NTRE, different countries have pursued different legal and regulatory approaches, but there remains very limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of different approaches. In this paper, we use a unique dataset that combines information on NTRE growth rates and information on the legal and regulatory framework, as well as other control variables, for 27 countries over the period 2001-2010. Legal and regulatory instruments include legally binding and non-binding quantity targets, contracts guaranteeing premium prices, fiscal incentives and import duty waivers, and guaranteed access to the grid. Using an information-theoretic Markov Chain analysis, results indicate that fiscal incentives and guaranteed access have relatively high impacts on transitions into high growth rates, whereas fiscal incentives and import duty waivers have relatively high impacts on transitions into moderate growth rates. Binding and non-binding agreements increase transitions out of negative and zero growth rates, but to relatively low positive growth rates. Contracts with premium subsidies also have limited impacts on transitions into high growth rates, though they are associated with transitions into the low growth category. These results provide additional evidence on which regulatory instruments have been most effective in aiding countries in expanding their NTRE.
Returns to Higher Education in Chile and Colombia
Authors: González-Velosa Carolina , Urzúa Sergio , Rucci Graciana , Sarzosa Miguel
Published: March 2024

In the last decades, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced a dramatic increase in the levels of higher education enrollment. Using administrative data from Chile and Colombia, we find that this phenomenon is not always associated with higher private individual returns. In both countries, there is a significant dispersion in the net returns to higher education and a significant proportion of graduates could be facing negative returns. This means that, for many higher education graduates, net earnings might have been higher if they had not earned a higher education degree. We hypothesize that while there have been major policy efforts to increase coverage, institutional arrangements that encourage quality and relevance has been insufficient. Corrective measures in this direction are urgent. Sustainable growth requires a labor force with relevant skills and capabilities. In light of our results, it is not clear that the higher education systems in these countries are delivering these outcomes.
Do the Rich Save More in Latin America?
Authors: Gandelman Néstor
Published: March 2024

This paper follows two strategies to address whether the rich save more. First, the paper implements a two-stage procedure in which the household's lifetime income is instrumented with the education level of the household head and the education level of his/her partner. Second, using information on home assets, the paper constructs a wealth index. There is evidence that the richest households save more in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru. On the other hand, no differences are found in saving rates by lifetime income or wealth in Bahamas, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay.
On the Implications of Taxation for Investment, Savings and Growth: Evidence from Brazil, Chile and Mexico
Authors: Espino Emilio , González Rozada Martín
Published: March 2024

This paper explores the qualitative and quantitative implications of taxation for growth and savings in three Latin American countries: Brazil, Chile and Mexico, studying a small open economy in the context of an endogenous growth model where the domestic interest rate depends on the level of domestic debt. The model's parameters are calibrated to the Brazilian, Chilean and Mexican economies. The findings suggest that, in order to implement the optimal tax regime, Brazil must tax capital at a considerably lower rate than at present. Consumption should be heavily taxed in Brazil and Mexico and optimal labor taxes should be lower than actual taxes in Brazil and Chile. However, while sub-optimal taxes seem to imply lower long-run growth in these three countries, low saving rates do not seem to be a direct consequence of sub-optimal taxation.
From Candles to Light: The Impact of Rural Electrification
Authors: Arráiz Irani , Calero Carla
Published: March 2024

This paper studies the impact of access to electricity via solar-powered home systems (SHSs) in rural communities in Peru. Applying propensity score matching at the community as well as at the household level, the authors find that households with SHSs spend less on traditional sources of energy---candles and batteries for flashlights---and that the subsequent savings are commensurate to the fee for SHS use. People in households with SHSs spend more time awake, and women in particular change patterns of time use: they spend more time taking care of children, cooking, doing laundry, and weaving for their families, and less time in productive activities outside their homes (farming). Children spend more time doing homework, which has translated into more years of schooling (among elementary school students) and higher rates of enrollment (in secondary school). Although women spend less time farming and men more time on home business activities in households with SHSs than in those without, these changes have had no evident impact on income or poverty.
Planting the Seeds: The Impact of Training on Mango Producers in Haiti
Authors: Arráiz Irani , Calero Carla , Jin Songqing , Peralta Alexandra
Published: March 2024

This paper evaluates the short-term impacts of a development project that aims to increase mango yields, sales of mango products, and the income of small mango farmers in rural Haiti. Various matching methods, in combination with difference-in-difference (DID), are used to deal with the potential selection bias associated with nonrandom treatment assignment. Robustness checks are conducted to investigate whether and to what extent the results are affected by the coexistence of other similar projects in the same sites. Rosenbaum bounds analysis is carried out to check the sensitivity of the estimated impacts---based on matching methods---to deviations from the conditional independence assumptions; the relative importance of unobserved factors in the decision to participate. Our results show that in a 16-month period, the project increased the number of young Francique trees planted---a type that has greater market and export potential than traditional mango varieties---and likely encouraged the adoption of best practices. But the project has not yet led to a noticeable increase in total sales. The adoption of improved production practices is too recent to translate into significant changes in production and sales. While the robustness check suggests that the results are not caused by the presence of other similar programs on the same sites, the Rosenbaum bounds sensitivity analysis suggests that the matching results are robust against potential "hidden bias" arising from unobserved outcome variables in some but not all cases.
Firms' Investment and Savings in Latin America: Stylized Facts from the Enterprise Survey
Authors: Ronconi Lucas , Kawamura Enrique
Published: March 2024

This paper describes the share of investment in fixed capital and working capital financed by retained earnings using a harmonized dataset from the World Bank Enterprise Survey. The sample includes firms across countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Descriptive statistics are presented for the share of purchases of fixed assets financed with internal funds or retained earnings, the share of working capital financed with internal funds, the ratio between internal funds used for purchasing fixed assets and sales, and annual purchases of fixed assets (as a proportion of annual sales). Also presented are stylized facts exploring how these variables differ by country, firm size, firm age, registration, sector of activity, and ownership. It is found that internal funds are extensively used to finance both purchases of fixed assets and working capital, particularly by smaller firms located in countries with less developed financial markets. Investment in fixed assets represents about 7. 5 percent of sales in the region and is significantly higher among larger and registered firms.
Intended and Unintended Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers: The Case of Bolivia's Renta Dignidad
Authors: Mena Gary , Hernani-Limarino Werner L.
Published: March 2024

This document presents a quasi-experimental impact evaluation of Bolivia's Renta Dignidad, a universal and non-contributory old age pension. Causal effects on direct, future, and indirect beneficiaries are identified, taking advantage of a reduction in age of eligibility from 65 to 60 years in December 2007. Differencein- difference and changes-in-changes approaches are used to calculate average and quantile treatment effects. For women, non-contributory pensions have, on average, increased their households' non-labor income. This has decreased their labor supply and labor earnings, in turn decreasing households' labor income and thus reducing, ceteris paribus, the program's effect on total per capita household income. Unexpectedly, the program did not have significant effects on men's welfare, investments and labor market outcomes. The results also suggest that additional resources were neither consumed nor invested in health, education, or the purchase of durables. Households most likely held the additional resources and invested in dwelling improvements.
Teacher Quality and Learning Outcomes in Kindergarten
Authors: Araujo María Caridad , Cruz-Aguayo Yyannu , Carneiro Pedro , Schady Norbert
Published: March 2024

We assigned two cohorts of kindergarten students, totaling more than 24,000 children, to teachers within schools with a rule that is as-good-as-random. We collected data on children at the beginning of the school year, and applied 12 tests of math, language and executive function (EF) at the end of the year. All teachers were filmed teaching for a full day, and the videos were coded using a well-known classroom observation tool, the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (or CLASS). We find substantial classroom effects: A one-standard deviation increase in classroom quality results in 0.11, 0.11, and 0.07 standard deviation higher test scores in language, math, and EF, respectively. Teacher behaviors, as measured by the CLASS, are associated with higher test scores. Parents recognize better teachers, but do not change their behaviors appreciably to take account of differences in teacher quality .
Evaluation of the Chilean Jack Mackerel ITQ System
Authors: Peña-Torres Julio , Kroetz Kailin , Sanchirico James N. , Corderi David
Published: March 2024

The debate in commercial fishery management has evolved from whether well-defined rights are necessary for sustainability to measuring the impacts of different rights-based system designs. Most assessments are on developed world fisheries. Using a unique collection of datasets, we develop counterfactuals to evaluate the impacts of the Chilean Jack Mackerelcatch share program. We investigate vessel and trip characteristics, as well as trip costs and revenues, before and after the implementation of the program. We find an increase in higher value products and associated revenue, as well as consolidation of catch on larger vessels, vessels taking longer trips, and catching more per trip. Overall, we estimate that the program led to a measureable increase in fishing profits, mainly due to movement toward higher value products. A back-of-the-envelope calculation results in an implied annual quota rental rate on the order of ~15-19% of ex-vessel prices.
Climate Change and Migration: A CGE Analysis for Two Large Urban Regions of Latin America
Authors: Chisari Omar O. , Miller Sebastián J.
Published: March 2024

Migration is one of the strategies used by populations to adapt to natural shocks and also to respond to economic policies. Climate change will probably have an impact on the productivity of factors and on the health of the population of the Latin America and Caribbean region, triggering migrations. In addition, policies aimed at reducing emissions (like carbon taxes) will change relative prices and the remuneration of factors and, in turn, will alter the allocation of labor between urban and rural areas. This paper explores the potential quantitative relevance of those population movements using a CGE version of the Harris-Todaro model. Two paradigmatic cases are considered: i) domestic or internal migrations, focusing on the case of Sao Paulo (Brazil) and ii) international migrations, analyzing the displacement of population from Bolivia and Paraguay to Argentina.
Gone with the Wind: Demographic Transitions and Domestic Saving
Authors: Sánchez Gabriel , Valenzuela Patricio , Cavallo Eduardo A.
Published: March 2024

This study explores the relationship between demographic factors and saving rates using a panel dataset covering 110 countries between 1963 and 2012. In line with predictions from theory, this paper finds that lower dependency rates and greater longevity increase domestic saving rates. However, these effects are statistically robust only in Asia. In particular, Latin America, which is a region that has undergone a remarkably similar demographic transition, did not experience the same boost in saving rates as Asia. The paper highlights that the potential dividends arising from a favorable demographic transition are not automatically accrued. This is a sobering message at a time when the demographic tide is shifting in the world.
Impact Evaluation of the Job Youth Training Program Projoven
Authors: Rosas-Shady David , Díaz Juan José
Published: March 2024

This paper brings new evidence on the impact of The Peruvian Job Youth Training Program (Projoven). Compared with prior evaluations of the program, this one has several advantages. This is the first experimental impact evaluation of Projoven, and also the first to measure impacts over a longer period: almost three years after training. Additionally, the evaluation supplements data from a follow-up survey with administrative data from the country's Electronic Payroll (Planilla Electrónica), allowing for a more accurate measure of formal employment. It also measures whether socioemotional skills of beneficiaries improved with program participation. The evaluation finds a high long term positive impact of Projoven on formal employment. It also finds certain heterogeneity of program impacts across subpopulations. Impacts on formal employment vary depending on the beneficiaries' gender and age, with different patterns of statistical significance depending on the data source used to measure employment formality. Finally, it does not find significant impacts on socio-emotional skills.
Money for Wine?: Complementarities in the Provision of Private and Public Goods to Wine Producers
Authors: Rossi Martín , Maffioli Alessandro , Gibbons María Amelia
Published: March 2024

This paper evaluates the impact of two programs that provide public and private goods, in the form of irrigation canals and materials (such as hail nets). Using a twelve-year panel of wine producers from Mendoza and San Juan, Argentina, we find that the programs have had positive and significant impacts on production and yield. We also find that the programs present important complementarities, in the sense that being exposed to the twointerventions increases the outputs more than the mere sum of the separate interventions.
Transit Trade
Authors: Graziano Alejandro , Schaur Georg , Volpe Martincus Christian , Carballo Jerónimo
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we estimate the effects of transit systems that substantiallystreamline administrative processing of trade flows. In so doing, we use a unique dataset that consists of the entire universe of El Salvador's export transactions over the period 2007-2013 and includes information on the transactions channeled under a new transit regime established with neighboring countries over the same period. Results suggest that this new transit system has been associated with decreased order servicing and variable trade costs. As a consequence, firms' exports increased primarily through higher shipping frequencies. Furthermore, the effects have been strong on foreign sales of time-sensitive goods. This evidence informs one of the main policies covered in the 2013 WTO Agreement of Trade Facilitation.
Democracy Does Not Cause Growth: The Importance of Endogeneity Arguments
Authors: Vuletin Guillermo , Ruiz Pozuelo Julia , Slipowitz Amy
Published: March 2024

This article challenges recent findings that democracy has sizable effects on economic growth. As extensive political science research indicates that economic turmoil is responsible for causing or facilitating many democratic transitions, the paper focuses on this endogeneity concern. Using a worldwide survey of 165 country-specific democracy experts conducted for this study, the paper separates democratic transitions into those occurring for reasons related to economic turmoil, here called endogenous, and those grounded in reasons more exogenous to economic growth. The behavior of economic growth following these more exogenous democratizations strongly indicates that democracy does not cause growth. Consequently, the common positive association between democracy and economic growth is driven by endogenous democratization episodes (i. e. , due to faulty identification).
Can Countries Rely on Foreign Saving for Investment and Economic Development?
Authors: Panizza Ugo , Eichengreen Barry , Cavallo Eduardo A.
Published: March 2024

A surprisingly large number of countries have been able to finance a significant fraction of domestic investment using foreign finance for extended periods. While many of these episodes are in low-income countries where official finance is more important than private finance, this paper also identifies a number of episodes where a substantial fraction of domestic investment was financed via private capital inflows. That said, foreign savings are not a good substitute for domestic savings, since more often than not episodes of large and persistent current account deficits do not end happily. Rather, they end abruptly with compression of the current account, real exchange rate depreciation, and a sharp slowdown in investment. Summing over the deficit episode and its aftermath, growth is slower than when countries rely on domestic savings. The paper concludes that financing growth and investment out of foreign savings, while not impossible, is risky.
Bond Finance, Bank Credit, and Aggregate Fluctuations in an Open Economy
Authors: Fernandez Andres , Gulan Adam , Chang Roberto
Published: March 2024

Corporate sectors in emerging markets have noticeably increased their reliance on foreign financing, presumably reflecting low global interest rates. The evidence also shows a rebalancing from bank loans towards bonds. To study these developments, this paper develops a dynamic open economy model where these modes of finance are determined endogenously. The model replicates the stylized facts following a drop in world interest rates; in particular, rebalancing towards bonds occurs because bank credit becomes relatively more expensive, reflecting the scarcity of bank equity. More generally, the model is suitable for studying interactions between modes of finance and the macroeconomy.
Trade, Economic and Welfare Impacts of the CARICOM-Canada Free Trade Agreement
Authors: Hosein Roger , Khadan Jeetendra
Published: March 2024

This paper estimates the trade, revenue, and welfare effects of the proposedCaribbean Community (CARICOM)-Canada free trade agreement (FTA) on CARICOM countries using a partial equilibrium model. The welfare analysis also takes into account the Economic Partnership Agreement, which was signed in 2008 by the CARIFORUM (CARICOM and the Dominican Republic) countries and the European Union. The revealed comparative advantage index, trade complementarity index, and transition probability matrices are used to examine the dynamics of comparative advantage for CARICOM countries' exports to Canada. The results obtained from the partial equilibrium model indicate adverse revenue and welfare effects for CARICOM member states. The results from various trade indices used do not provide evidence to suggest that an FTA between CARICOM countries and Canada can improve trade outcomes.
Stylized Facts about the Quantity and Quality of Parental Time Investments on the Skill Formation of Their Children
Authors: Agüero Jorge M. , Torres Javier
Published: March 2024

This paper uses seven nationally representative time use surveys in Latin America to identify key stylized facts regarding the quantity and quality of parental time investment on the skill formation of their children. Traditional models of household behavior have failed to account for the differential behavior of parents with respect to skill formation of their children vis-à-vis home production. This paper finds that, similarly to higher-income countries, there is a positive education gradient, as more educated parents spend more time on skill formation than their less educated counterparts. This pattern is observed across all countries. The paper further extends this literature by showing that more educated parents also provide better care for their children, thus increasing the socioeconomic gap.
Skill Premium, Labor Supply and Changes in the Structure of Wages in Latin America
Authors: Fernández Manuel , Messina Julián
Published: March 2024

Earnings inequality declined rapidly in Argentina, Brazil and Chile during the 2000s. A reduction in the experience premium is a fundamental driver of declines in upper-tail (90/50) inequality, while a decline in the education premium is the primary determinant of the evolution of lower-tail (50/10) inequality. Relative labor supply is important for explaining changes in the skill premiums. Relative demand trends favored high-skilled workers during the 1990s, shifting in favor of low-skilled workers during the 2000s. Changes in the minimum wage, and more importantly, commodity-led terms of trade improvements are key factors behind these relative skill demand trends.
Gender Gaps and Scientific Productivity in Middle-Income Countries: Evidence from Mexico
Authors: Rivera León Lorena , Mairesse Jacques , Cowan Robin
Published: March 2024

This paper provides evidence of the existence and determinants of the publication productivity gender gap in Mexico at the individual level, and its consequences for the Mexican scientific system and productivity at both the individual discipline and the aggregate levels. The paper specifies and performs a panel data econometric analysis based on a sample of Mexican researchers who are members of the National System of Researchers (SNI) of Mexico in the period 2002-13. It corrects for a selectivity bias: the existence of periods with no (or low-quality) publications, and endogeneity bias: promotion to higher academic ranks. It defines and implements counterfactual simulations to assess the magnitude of macro-impacts of existing gender gaps and illustrate the potential effects of a range of policy scenarios. The results show no significant gender gaps for an average SNI researcher. Moreover, after correcting for endogeneity and selectivity biases, the study finds that the average female researcher in public universities is around 8 percent more productive than her male peers, with most of the observed productivity being explained by gender differentials in the propensity to have periods of no (or low) quality publication. Barriers to promotion to higher academic ranks are highest among females in public research centers (PRCs). The study's macro scenarios on promotion practices, selectivity, collaboration, and age show that eliminating gender gaps would increase aggregate productivity by an average of 7 percent for university women and 9 percent for women in research centers.
Quality Management System and Firm Performance in an Emerging Economy: The Case of Colombian Manufacturing Industries
Authors: Gallego Juan Miguel , Gutiérrez Luis H.
Published: March 2024

Over one million firms around the world have adopted a Quality Management System (QMS) that conforms to ISO 9001 certification in 2015 and recent figures show that certifications have rapidly increased in emerging economies. ISO 9001 is considered a signal of high quality for products or services in markets with large imported competition or firms competing in international markets. However, implementing ISO 9001 certification entails large costs to companies for documentation of operating procedures, training, internal auditing, and corrective action. The impact of QMS on firm performance is unknown in developing economies and is still under-researched for more developed countries. This paper takes advantage of unique data on the status of certified and non-certified manufacturing firms in Colombia (an emerging economy) and matches it with firm performance. In 2006, the Colombian government launched policies to reduce the cost of adopting certification. We use this change to implement a difference-in-differences specification on panel data of certified and non-certified firms by matching samples at the year 2003, three years before the policy change. This is the most comparable data possible. Our findings suggest that firms that adopt ISO 9001 certification increase labor productivity (measured as added value over labor) by 12 percent, and sales per employee and wages by 8 percent. The effect is larger for firms that adopted certifications two years after the new policies compared with firms that adopted them immediately. The potential mechanism to explain gains in firm performance is human capital because, prior to the changes, firms with more temporary workers could not take advantage of certification.
Financial Conditions Indicator for Brazil
Authors: Gaglianone Wagner Piazza , Dutra Areosa Waldyr
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes a methodology for constructing a Financial Conditions Indicator (FCI) based on factor analysis and the approaches of Brave and Butters (2011) and Aramonte et al. (2013). A selected set of variables is used and their information content aggregated into a single index that summarizes the overall financial conditions of the economy. The approach is further employed to forecast economic activity. An empirical exercise for Brazil is provided to illustrate the methodology, in which a reduced-form equation is employed to point forecast the growth rate of the Brazilian economy. In addition, a quantile regression technique is used to construct density forecasts and generate probability density functions of future economic activity. Finally, a risk analysis is conducted within this set-up in order to compute conditional probabilities of the growth rate of the economy to be above/below a given scenario, which might be useful for both academics and policymakersâ€™ concerns.
Two to Tango: Public-Private Collaboration for Productive Development Policies
Authors: Trejos Alberto , Stein Ernesto H. , Fernández-Arias Eduardo , Sabel Charles
Published: March 2024

This paper summarizes the findings of the recent Inter-American Development Bank book Two to Tango: Public-Private Collaboration Productive Development Policies, based on case studies of 25 productive development policies (PDPs) in five countries and discusses an additional example from Peru. One finding that emerges from those studies is that governments could not make policy in isolation and needed private sector involvement at every phase of the policy process. It is also found that the private sector generally collaborated in the design and implementation of PDPs without attempting to manipulate or capture them. In contrast to previous views of PDPs as static and best undertaken in isolation by governments, successful PDPs involve a dynamic and interactive process with ample and continuous private sector participation.
Una Mirada Estratégica y Gerencial de la Implementación de los Programas Sociales
Authors: Cortázar Velarde Juan Carlos
Published: March 2024

La implementación es usualmente considerada un proceso de menor rango o valor en comparación a los procesos de diseño o evaluación de las políticas públicas. Este artículo pretende aportar un marco conceptual para comprender los procesos de implementación en el caso específico de los programas sociales. Para ello, se acude tanto al punto de vista del pensamiento gerencial como al del pensamiento estratégico. La reflexión gerencial sobre la implementación considera la complejidad que tienen las rutinas, actividades e interacciones que ponen y mantienen en marcha un programa social. A partir de esta mirada, el artículo analiza los procesos de gestión de operaciones, control de gestión y desarrollo de capacidades como componentes del proceso de implementación La reflexión estratégica sobre la implementación, por otra parte, se centra en cómo los procesos operativos y de control de gestión añaden valor a la política o programa en curso.
Competencia, Integración Vertical y Rendimiento en los Servicios de Salud Públicos y Privados de Chile
Authors: Miranda Ernesto , Paredes Molina Ricardo D.
Published: March 2024

El sistema de salud chileno presenta características únicas. En el país existe un mandato que obliga a los trabajadores activos y pasivos a cotizar un 7% de su ingreso para adscribirse junto a sus dependientes a un sistema de seguro de salud. Esta adscripción obligatoria puede ser al sistema público, el cual se organiza a través de una modalidad solidaria tradicional de seguridad social, o bien al sistema privado, el cual ofrece seguros de salud que obedecen a una lógica de tipo individual. La elección de uno de los sistemas es voluntaria, pero las características de los seguros ofrecidos y su precio de acceso producen una segmentación del mercado de manera tal que las personas de mayores ingresos y menor riesgo se orientan hacia el sector privado de las ISAPRE (Instituciones de Salud Previsional) y aquellos de menores ingresos y mayor riesgo de salud son atendidos en el sistema público.
Analisis de la Magnitud y Costos de la Violencia en la Ciudad de México
Authors: Zurita Beatriz , De Jesús Ramírez Teresita , Lozano Rafael , Avila Leticia , Ayala Clotilde , Bravo Maria Lilia , Hijar Marta , Hernández Patricia , Carrillo Carlos
Published: March 2024

La pobreza está presente en todas las sociedades modernas. Pocos estarían en desacuerdo en que hasta en los países más ricos del mundo hay personas en niveles de vida inaceptablemente bajos. Pero todavía no está en claro cómo acometer este problema. Recientemente se ha reavivado un viejo debate: ¿la solución es lograr el crecimiento económico o deben los gobiernos poner en práctica activamente políticas de reducción de la pobreza? Básicamente hay dos puntos de vista opuestos. Según uno de ellos, el ingreso de los pobres exhibe un crecimiento de uno a uno con el crecimiento económico, por lo tanto, las políticas que garantizan un crecimiento implícito ayudan a reducir la pobreza y por lo tanto no hay claridad en cuanto a la necesidad de políticas sociales adicionales. Según el otro punto de vista, el ingreso de los pobres crece a razón de menos de uno a uno con el ingreso promedio. Si se usa una definición de la pobreza como un ingreso de dos dólares (US$) al día, la proporción de pobres en la mayoría de los países industrializados resulta ser muy pequeña (alrededor de 2% de la población total). Pero este tipo de definición, que pudiera resultar adecuada en el caso de países en desarrollo, carece de sentido en el contexto de países ricos. En el mundo industrializado, la línea que demarca la pobreza normalmente depende del nivel de vida de cada población. Estas definiciones siempre arrojan niveles de pobreza muy por encima de los niveles de pobreza absoluta. Algunos ejemplos son Dollar y Kraay (2000), Gallup et al. (1999) y Roemer y Gugerty (1997). Véase, por ejemplo, Bourguignon (2001), Birdsall y De la Torre (2001), y Foster y Székely (2001).
La Violencia Intencional en Lima Metropolitana: Magnitud, Impacto Económico y Evaluación de Políticas de Control, 1985-1995
Authors: Azabache César , Eyzaguirre Hugo , Chang Neyra Jaime , Remenyi María Antonia , Ortiz de Zevallos Gabriel
Published: March 2024

En el Perú no existe un estudio completo y exhaustivo sobre el fenómeno de la violencia contra la vida y la propiedad. La falta de información ordenada y sistematizada que permita cuantificar su magnitud, estimar su impacto económico y evaluar el funcionamiento de las instituciones vinculadas a la prevención, control y sanción del delito, impide una mejor comprensión del problema y limita la definición e implementación de políticas adecuadas para enfrentar este tipo de violencia. El informe que se presenta a continuación consta de tres capítulos. El primero presenta un panorama de la magnitud de la violencia intencional contra la persona--número de defunciones y lesiones por violencia intencional según sexo, edad y causa externa--en Lima Metropolitana y a nivel nacional, a partir de la información disponible en el Ministerio de Salud y la Policía Nacional del Perú. Debido a que las cifras disponibles en el Perú son de mala calidad y, por lo tanto, poco confiables, han sido corregidas considerando los mejores supuestos. Los resultados, si bien intentan reflejar la realidad de la mejor manera posible, carecen de exactitud, pues la información estadística utilizada como base para todo el análisis es muy deficiente.
La economía política de las reformas institucionales en Argentina: Los casos de la política de privatización de ENTel, la reforma de la seguridad social y la reforma laboral
Authors: Gerchunoff Pablo , Torre Juan Carlos
Published: March 2024

El presente trabajo propone desagregar el análisis de la experiencia argentina ocupándose de la trayectoria de un conjunto de políticas de reforma extraído del vasto cambio institucional realizado por la administración de Carlos Menem. El criterio para la selección de los casos a estudiar es el sugerido por los términos de referencia del proyecto de investigación, esto es, el grado en que los objetivos fijados por el gobierno son alcanzados. Tres son las reformas escogidas: la Privatización de Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (ENTel), la compañía de telecomunicaciones estatal, que es una reforma exitosa según el criterio enunciado; la Reforma de la Seguridad Social, cuyo desenlace fue una solución de compromiso, y finalmente; la Reforma Laboral, que avanzó en forma desigual y no llegó a completarse.
Geografía y desarrollo económico en México
Authors: Esquivel Gerardo
Published: March 2024

Este trabajo analiza el papel de las características geográficas en la explicación del patrón de desarrollo económico regional en México. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que algunas variables geográficas, como el clima y la vegetación, explican una parte importante de las diferencias que existen tanto en el nivel como en la tasa de crecimiento del ingreso per capita entre los estados mexicanos. Un análisis simple de los determinantes de la esperanza de vida y de la escolaridad promedio demuestra que los aspectos geográficos también juegan un papel importante en la explicación de los diferenciales inter-estatales de estas variables en México. Estos resultados sugieren que una posible influencia de la geografía en el desarrollo económico regional se da a través de su efecto en el capital humano. Finalmente, este trabajo examina la contribución de las variables geográficas a la desigualdad regional en México. Los resultados de este ejercicio demuestran que los factores geográficos son los que más han contribuido a la desigualdad regional en México.
Un Estudio sobre la Autonomía Administrativa del Banco Central de Venezuela
Authors: Barrios Ross Armando , Daza Abelardo
Published: March 2024

El propósito básico de este estudio es contribuir a la comprensión de los factores favorables y los elementos de potencial amenaza para que los bancos centrales ejerzan su autonomía institucional. Para el logro de este propósito, se utiliza la metodología de estudio de casos, examinando la experiencia de Venezuela durante dos eventos particulares: la crisis financiera acaecida en el período 1994-1996 y el manejo de la política cambiaria durante los años 1995-96. Ambos eventos sucedieron durante la vigencia de la Ley del Banco Central de Venezuela (BCV) reformada en 1992, mediante la cual se aspiró conferirle un grado significativo de autonomía frente a otras instituciones del Estado, particularmente el poder ejecutivo. Ello constituye un escenario natural para poner a prueba la autonomía institucional del BCV frente al gobierno y los diversos grupos a que está expuesta su actuación.
Apertura, reforma y mercado de trabajo: La experiencia de una década de cambios estructurales en el Perú
Authors: Pagés Carmen
Published: March 2024

Este estudio examina la situación laboral en el Perú y encuentra evidencia de una profunda transformación en el mercado de trabajo durante los noventa. En primer lugar, la creación de empleos en el sector privado se aceleró enormemente a partir de 1992. Sin embargo, el fuerte y simultaneo crecimiento en la oferta de trabajo ha incidido en que la tasa de desempleo no bajara sustancialmente durante este periodo. En segundo lugar, aunque las tasas de desempleo de los noventa son mayores que en la segunda mitad de los ochenta, el mercado de trabajo re-emplea trabajadores desplazados con mayor rapidez. En tercer lugar, los salarios de individuos de características similares han tendido a igualarse entre sectores y actividades. También, durante los noventa se ha acelerado la contratación de mujeres y trabajadores jóvenes en el sector formal lo que ha supuesto una caída en las diferencias en la composición de mano de obra entre los sectores tradicionalmente clasificados como informales y el sector formal. En conjunto, el crecimiento del empleo, la mayor capacidad de re-empleo de trabajadores desplazados y la caída en la prima de formalidad sugieren un desempeño más eficiente del mercado de trabajo peruano. Sin embargo, esta transformación no está exenta de dificultades que a su vez, suponen nuevos retos para los responsables de la política laboral, educativa y económica del país.
Pobreza, Desigualdad, y Liberalización Comercial y Financiera en América Latina
Authors: Behrman Jere R. , Birdsall Nancy , Székely Miguel
Published: March 2024

Este trabajo intenta responder a la pregunta de cuál ha sido el efecto de la liberalización comercial y financiera sobre la desigualdad y la pobreza en América Latina. Para esto, proponemos una metodología para estimar el efecto de la liberalización económica sobre la desigualdad y la pobreza, y la aplicamos a una base de datos desarrollada a partir de 93 encuestas de hogares para 17 países Latinoamericanos, con información entre 1977 y 2000. Los dos resultados más importantes son, primero, que la liberalización comercial parece no tener efectos distinguibles sobre los cambios en la desigualdad y la pobreza en la región durante los años ochenta y noventa. Si algún efecto tiene, éste es negativo (es decir progresivo), pero no es significativo desde el punto de vista estadístico. El segundo, es que la liberalización financiera ha tenido un efecto significativo de aumento de la desigualdad y la pobreza.
Legislación y Control de Riesgos de Salud en América Latina y el Caribe
Authors: Bolis Mónica
Published: March 2024

Este estudio analiza la legislación en Latín América y el Caribe con el propósito de determinar en qué medida contribuyen, o no, a la eliminación de riesgos para la salud. Los países incluidos son: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belice, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, República Dominicana, Trinidad y Tobago, Uruguay y Venezuela. La investigación se centró en las áreas de medicamentos, seguros privados de salud, certificación de profesionales y hospitales, contaminación ambiental, protección de alimentos, salud y seguridad ocupacionales, y bancos de sangre y servicios de transfusión. Para este estudio se investigó la legislación vigente hasta el 1 de abril de 2001 contenida en la base de datos LEYES, en varias bases de datos legislativas, nacionales y regionales y las bases de datos especializadas producidas da el Instituto Panamericano de Protección de Alimentos y Zoonoses (INPPAZ) y el Centro Panamericano de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ciencias del Ambiente (CEPIS). Cada capítulo presenta una tabla que identifica los temas cubiertos y los vacíos que presentan las legislaciones de acuerdo con la información analizada.
Proyectos Enclave: ¿Qué Son y Qué Se Puede Hacer?
Authors: Davidsen Elizabeth , Deruyttere Anne , Montgomery Robert , Alzina Virginia , Nolet Gijs , Huici Rodolfo , Ketterer Juan Antonio , Jiménez Javier
Published: March 2024

En el presente informe se atiende a la solicitud del Directorio del BID de que se preparara un documento de planteamientos sobre las ventajas y desventajas de incluir programas sociales de efectos positivos en proyectos enclave una vez adoptadas las correspondientes medidas de mitigación e indemnización. A los efectos del presente informe, se entiende por proyectos enclave grandes proyectos de inversión del sector público o privado orientados hacia la producción que importan sistemas de producción o comercialización tecnológicamente avanzados para la economía local, funcionan con un alto grado de autonomía y exportan los bienes producidos. Constituye una característica determinante de estos proyectos la de que los beneficios directos fluyen hacia fuera de la comunidad en que se ejecutan. Las inversiones en proyectos enclave pueden plantear problemas cuando tienen como resultado pérdidas actuales o futuras para la comunidad, algunas de las cuales puede resultar difícil evaluar e indemnizar plenamente, o cuando no se materializan las expectativas de la comunidad de un mayor bienestar.
India: Desarrollo Económico y Oportunidad Social
Authors: Sen Amartya , Dreze Jean
Published: March 2024

En términos históricos, la mejora de las condiciones de vida que se ha llevado a cabo en el mundo en desarrollo durante las últimas décadas ha sido bastante extraordinaria.
Diagnóstico Institucional del Sistema de Servicio Civil de Colombia
Authors: Ávila Ricardo
Published: March 2024

El presente estudio se centra en el servicio civil de la administración del Estado en Colombia, con un énfasis preciso en el nivel Nacional central, si bien se incluyen estadísticas que cobijan a todo el sector público. Aunque el marco jurídico existente es el mismo para todos los niveles de la Rama Ejecutiva de los niveles Nacional, Departamental, Distrital, Municipal y sus entes descentralizados, entre otros, en la práctica la demora en el desarrollo de las normas ha impedido que el sistema haya empezado a operar.
Diagnóstico Institucional de Sistema de Servicio Civil: El Caso de Uruguay
Authors: Guinovart Beatriz
Published: March 2024

De acuerdo al marco metodológico referente de este trabajo, se entiende por Servicio Civil "el sistema de gestión del empleo público y los recursos humanos adscritos al servicio de las organizaciones públicas, existente en una realidad nacional determinada".
La Economía Política de la Reforma del Servicio Civil en Brasil: Los Años de Cardoso
Authors: Heredia Blanca , Gaetani Francisco
Published: March 2024

A mediados de los años noventa Brasil inició un proceso, tan amplio como atrevido, para reformar su sistema de gestión del empleo público. La reforma del Servicio Civil fue lanzada en la primera administración del Presidente Cardoso (1995-1998), como uno de los componentes clave de un esfuerzo más amplio para reestructurar el aparato estatal.
Educación secundaria en América Latina y el Caribe: Los retos del crecimiento y la reforma
Authors: Wolff Laurence , Castro Claudio de Moura
Published: March 2024

Este documento fue comisionado por la Red de Educación del Diálogo Regional de Política para la I Reunión Hemisférica celebrada los días 5 y 6 de diciembre de 2000. La educación secundaria es fundamental para el éxito de lasnaciones en este nuevo entorno. Para competir con efectividad, los países latinoamericanos y del Caribe deben enfrentar el reto de ofrecer un mejor acceso a la educación secundaria y, a la vez, mejorar su calidad y pertinencia. En este documento se presenta una síntesis oportuna de estos temas, problemas, investigaciones y mejores prácticas que se adelantan actualmente en la región y en otros lugares. El artículo estima las necesidades fundamentales de recursos cuantitativos, financieros y humanos para los próximos diez años, e identifica una serie de estrategias para enfrentar estos retos de maneras que resulten eficientes en cuanto a los costos. Con base en lo anterior, el presente informe puede ser una guía útil para quienes diseñan políticas educativas.
Algunas dimensiones de la profesionalización de los docentes: representaciones y temas de la agenda política
Authors: Tenti Fanfani Emilio
Published: March 2024

Este documento comienza con afirmando el carácter estratégico del factor humano en la prestación del servicio educativo. Luego se presentan los resultados de un programa de investigación sobre actitudes y expectativas de los docentes respecto de su propio rol profesional, las nuevas tecnologías educativas y determinadas dimensiones que configuran la carrera docente (sistemas de evaluación de docentes y aspiraciones laborales). Por último se proponen ciertos temas y metas para construir una agenda de política educativa relacionados con la profesionalización de los docentes para el mediano plazo y se sugieren algunos criterios de política específicamente orientados a garantizar las mejores probabilidades de éxito de aquellas intervenciones específicamente orientadas a transformar la subjetividad del docente y el conjunto de reglas y recursos que estructuran su profesión.
Colombia: Nota sectorial sobre Comercio e Integración
Authors: Giordano Paolo , Villela Luiz Arruda , Volpe Martincus Christian , Iannelli Norberto
Published: March 2024

En los próximos años, los sectores público y privado de Colombia enfrentarán enormes desafíos a raíz de la negociación e implementación de acuerdos de integración que alterarán profundamente el régimen de integración del país y sus perspectivas de inserción en la economía global.
El ALCA y la OMC: Especulaciones en torno a su interacción
Authors: Granados Jaime
Published: March 2024

Uno de los temas más interesantes del debate económico internacional es la interrelación entre el multilateralismo y los procesos de regionalización alrededor del mundo. La proliferación de esquemas de integración económica, en un momento en que la Organización Mundial de Comercio (OMC) ha adquirido un perfil tan alto, ha hecho que se vuelque la atención en torno a la interacción que habrá entre los procesos regionales de integración comercial y el multilateralismo. La literatura reciente ha estado analizando el proceso desde distintos ángulos, en particular desde las perspectivas económica, legal, y de economía política. Al respecto, un rico acervo de opiniones alimenta el debate dentro de su respectivo compartimento intelectual.