bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inter-American Development Bank Annual Business Review 2009
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The 2009 Annual Business Review (ABR) provides management with a status of the Bank's performance. The ABR reports on outputs, lending program priorities, and organizational indicators on a yearly basis to allow management to monitor progress in achieving corporate results. This periodic monitoring supports mid- to long-term, evidence-based decision making and allows for timely identification of deviations from targets and enables effective implementation of measures to address them.
Más allá de la Tiza y las Palabras: Educación Experimental de Matematica y Ciencias en Argentina
Authors: Cabrol Marcelo , Ibarrarán Pablo , Näslund-Hadley Emma
Published: March 2024

Los estudiantes de primaria en Argentina obtienen resultados bajos en las pruebas internacionales de aprendizaje, particularmente en el área de Matemática y Ciencias. Con el fin de revertir esta situación, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo está aplicando un estudio piloto para identificar modelos pedagógicos que puedan mejorar el aprendizaje de los jóvenes; en concreto, tres modelos basados en la indagación guiada fueron considerados durante 2009.
Revista Integración & Comercio: Año 13 : No. 29 : Enero-junio, 2009
Authors: Peña Félix , Knaack Peter , Pérez del Castillo Carlos , Evenett Simon J. , Wignaraja Ganeshan , Moreno Mejía Luis Alberto , Fernández de Soto Guillermo , Gonçalves José Botafogo , Bouzas Roberto , Aldonas Grant , Kawai Masahiro
Published: March 2024

Este número es un relanzamiento editorial de la Revista Integración y Comercio. Esta nueva etapa coincide con el quincuagésimo aniversario del Banco. En la introducción a cargo del Presidente Moreno se desarrolla su visión acerca de cómo el BID propone enfrentar los desafíos de América Latina y el Caribe en materia de integración regional e inserción en la economía global. A continuación se presentan tres ensayos sobre América Latina y el Caribe, Europa y Asia: El BID y medio siglo de integración regional en América Latina y el Caribe; Incentivo al comercio transfronterizo y la integración de los mercados: Lecciones extraídas de la experiencia europea; y La integración económica global y regional: Una perspectiva desde Asia. Se sigue con entrevistas a los expertos que participaron del "Diálogo sobre el futuro de la integración regional en las Américas".
Revista Integración & Comercio: Año 14 : No. 31 : Julio-diciembre, 2010
Authors: Jiménez Piernas Carlos , Granato María F. , Guardianelli Oscar , Blyde Juan S. , Barrantes Hidalgo Álvaro , De la Mora Luz María , Ferreira Edeon Vaz , Moncarz Pedro E. , Pineda Hoyos Saúl , Combes Pierre-Philippe , Sánchez Reaza Javier , Verdes-Montenegro Escánez Francisco J. , Thorpe Andy , Barbero José A. , Mesquita Moreira Mauricio , Sizeland Faye , Juárez Gerardo , Feistel Paulo R. , Sotelsek Daniel
Published: March 2024

La Revista Integración & Comercio del BID incluye artículos referidos a las distintas manifestaciones del proceso de integración en América Latina y el Caribe, a la integración hemisférica y, también, a los procesos con igual orientación que se llevan a cabo en otras partes del mundo. Este número está dedicado al tema del cambio climático y en particular su vínculo con el desarrollo económico y el comercio internacional. Incluye los siguientes títulos: Resultados empíricos de la geografía económica y sus implicancias para la políticas regionales: La experiencia europea; Comercio, proximidad y crecimiento: El impacto de la integración economía en las disparidades regionales en México; Infraestructura del transporte interno en Argentina y su incidencia sobre las exportaciones provinciales; La logística de cargas en América Latina y el Caribe: Una agenda para mejorar su desempeño. Este número también contiene artículos resultantes de la convocatoria sobre "Integración física para la inserción internacional y la conectividad regional de América Latina y el Caribe".
Revista Integración & Comercio: Número especial: 35 años del INTAL : 1965-2000
Authors: Feinberg Richard , Nagarajan Nigel , Aragão José María , Ffrench-Davis Ricardo , Herrera Felipe , Grabbe Heather , Lizano Fait Eduardo , Cohen Isaac , Demas William G. , Orrego Vicuña Francisco , Perroux François , Prebisch Raúl , FitzGerald E.V. , Iturriza Jorge , Massad Carlos
Published: March 2024

La Revista Integración & Comercio del BID incluye artículos referidos a las distintas manifestaciones del proceso de integración en América Latina y el Caribe, a la integración hemisférica y, también, a los procesos con igual orientación que se llevan a cabo en otras partes del mundo. En este número, en conmemoración de los 35 años de su creación, el Instituto para la Integración de América Latina y el Caribe (INTAL), publica aquí una serie de los principales artículos aparecidos en varias de sus revistas a lo largo de su existencia. La selección comprende contribuciones que abordan algunas de las distintas dimensiones en que todo proceso de integración puede concebirse. Además, se ha querido que, en lo posible, esas contribuciones se refieran a distintos esquemas de integración de América Latina y el Caribe.
En foco: No. 1: Abril, 2012: El impacto de los factores institucionales en los préstamos del BID
Authors: Srur Jorge
Published: March 2024

¿Cuánto incide la calidad de las instituciones en los países de América Latina y el Caribe sobre la efectividad de la ayuda que reciben para su desarrollo? Para entender y enfrentar mejor la cuestión, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo diseñó una matriz que organiza y cuantifica la información sobre los factores institucionales que han afectado sus préstamos en la región. El presente documento describe las características y utilidades de esta herramienta en progreso y los resultados obtenidos en su primera prueba de implementación.
Briefly Noted: No. 18: July 2012: The Transition to Teaching According to the Experiences of Non-Traditional Teachers
Authors: Benavides Martín , Alfonso Mariana
Published: March 2024

This note summarizes, as told from their personal experiences, the transition process of young people, mostly non-teachers, recruited by Enseña Perú to serve as teachers for a period of two years in vulnerable schools in Peru. The results shed light on the difficulties that are faced in the complex transition to teaching and how different mechanisms could facilitate this transition.
Energy Dossier: Dominican Republic
Authors: Hinestrosa Carlos , Balza Lenin , Espinasa Ramón , Sucre Carlos
Published: March 2024

This dossier analyzes the energy sector in Dominican Republic as it stood in 2010 and its changes over time. It describes the country's energy flow by consuming sector and source, and the sector's industrial organization and institutional framework.
Energy Dossier: Costa Rica
Authors: Hinestrosa Carlos , Balza Lenin , Espinasa Ramón , Sucre Carlos
Published: March 2024

This dossier analyzes the energy sector in Costa Rica as it stood in 2010 and its changes over time. It describes the country's energy flow by consuming sector and source, and the sector's industrial organization and institutional framework.
IDB Briefly Noted: No. 9 : June, 2011: Less Talk, More Play: Bolstering Math Learning in Argentina
Authors: Näslund-Hadley Emma
Published: March 2024

Argentina and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) joined forces to test a new math education model called Mathematics for All (MAT). After just one academic year, learning increased in schools using the model, with particularly dramatic improvements among underperforming students. This brief describes how MAT improved learning by focusing on the development of mathematical thinking rather than on the memorization of formulas.
On with the Show!: A Celebration of the 100th Anniversary and Restoration of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Presents An exhibition documenting the history and restoration of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires ¿Argentina¿s cornerstone of cultural industry, including recent preservation and restoration efforts undertaken on occasion of its centennial on May 25th, 2008; and the financial participation of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in the entire process will open to the public of Washington D.C., at the gallery of the IDB Cultural Center, on May 21st.
Ideas for Development in the Americas (IDEA): Volume 10 : May-August, 2006: Bond Markets: A Spare tire for the Domestic Financial System?
Authors: Funaro Rita ,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Bond development in Latin America presents something of a mixed picture. This edition of IDEA looks at how local bond markets have grown in size and liquidity but continue to lag behind emerging economies in Asia in a number of dimensions. How long will it take Latin America to develop deep and liquid bond markets? In addressing this question, the newsletter draws heavily on the 2007 issue of the Economic and Social Progress Report titled Living with Debt and on the results of the Latin American Research Network project on the Development of Bond Markets in Latin America.
Ideas for Development in the Americas (IDEA): Volume 21 : January-April, 2010: The Age of Productivity
Authors: Lora Eduardo ,   Inter American Development Bank, Funaro Rita
Published: March 2024

Latin America's lackluster growth and the resulting income gaps are due to a chronic productivity growth deficit. Latin American countries do not lack productive resources, they simply do not use them efficiently. The causes of this low productivity range from high rates of informality, poorly designed social policies and high transport costs to discriminatory tax regimes, a lack of innovation and a predisposition against productive development policies. The IDB dedicated the latest edition of its flagship publication, Development in the Americas, to the issue of productivity. This issue of IDEA draws on this study titled The Age of Productivity: Transforming Economies from the Bottom Up, as it explores some of the causes--and possible cures--of low productivity in the region.
Ideas for Development in the Americas (IDEA): Volume 7 : May-August, 2005: Public Banks Revisited
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Swimming against the prevailing economic tide, public banks are still a major force in the financial sector. This edition of IDEA examines the record of public banks and research on the theoretical frameworks for and against state-owned banks. It presents lessons learned from the past as well as issues for the future.
Geothermal Energy: A Sustainable Source of Power
Authors: Bruni Sandro
Published: March 2024

This publication of the Series on Energy Innovation explains geothermal energy, which is the energy stored in the Earth's crust. The discussion covers the potential use of this sustainable and clean energy source for electricity generation, and singles out possible key projects to be developed in Latin America and Caribbean region.
INTAL Connection: No 249: May, 2017
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

INTAL Connection informs on developments on integration and trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. This issue focuses on the seminar “Artificial meat: innovation in the era of production 4.0”, where Argentinean government officials and international experts provided a global perspective on the development of this alternative, technology-based meat production system.
INTAL Connection: No 250: June, 2017
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

INTAL Connection informs on developments on integration and trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. This issue focuses on the update of COSIPLAN website “Integration and Development Hubs”, where you can easily access the 581 infrastructure projects that make up the project Portfolio.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 1 : No. 2 : December, 1998
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

The second issue of the Microenterprise Development Review offers two main articles: "Microfinance Guarantees: Is There Another Model?" and "Regulating Microfinance." The first article discusses microfinance guarantees, where the lender's risk is mitigated through an external guarantor as well as other potential guarantee models. The second article examines the applicability of some central supervisory instruments for the regulation of microfinance.
Microenterprise Development Review: Volume 9 : No. 2 : December, 2006
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This issue of Micro Enterprise Development Review begins with the article "The Continent's Poor: A new Niche for Traditional Banks?" which describes how traditional banks successfully entered into the microfinance field and provides case studies from Mexico and Brazil, followed by a discussion of lessons learned. The second article discusses credit guarantee systems as a measure to facilitate access to credit for micro, small, and medium sized enterprises.
Debt Management in Latin America: How Safe Is the New Debt Composition?
Authors: Cavallo Eduardo A.
Published: March 2024

While public debt ratios in Latin America increased in 2009 amid the global financial crisis, they remain below levels reached following the Asian and Russian crises of the late 1990s. Moreover, debt composition has continued to shift towards "safer" debt (domestic debt with a higher prevalence of domestic currency liabilities). However, the current debt structure poses risks and policy challenges that should not be overlooked. Reviewing the latest available data on debt levels and composition for the region's largest countries, this brief concludes that debt managers should avoid complacency in thinking that the region is completely redeemed from old sins. Particularly overlooked is that there does not yet exist in the region a large investor base for debt denominated in domestic currency at fixed nominal rates and reasonably long maturities.
Labor Intermediation Services: A Review for Latin America and Caribbean Countries
Authors: Mazza Jacqueline
Published: March 2024

Labor intermediation services are used to improve the connection between job seeker and job. They aim not only to get job seekers more quickly into new jobs but also to make a better quality match, getting the more appropriate worker into the right job. Done well, labor intermediation helps reduce short-term unemployment, reduce job rotation, reduce the cost of new hires, improve productivity and firm growth, and importantly, reduce job discrimination. For many years, labor intermediation services were embodied in a single national public employment service that varied in quality and investment. Today, we find a range of public and private intermediation services and a wider range of products and services, including those to link workers to training, self-employment, and social services. This policy brief first examines the characteristics of labor intermediation services, then reviews key reform efforts in developed and Latin America and Caribbean economies, and lays out the principal institutional models or public/private configurations that can be found in these countries. It concludes by providing a series of recommendations and considerations for Latin American and Caribbean countries seeking to reinvigorate or reform labor intermediation services. In particular, the policy brief offers some key considerations for adapting labor intermediation services to the realities of Latin American and Caribbean economies.
Capital Requirements under Basel III in Andean Countries: The Cases of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
Authors: Del Valle Marielle , Rojas-Suárez Liliana , Galindo Arturo
Published: March 2024

Since the eruption of the global financial crisis in 2008 international setting bodies and local regulators around the world have been hard at work designing and implementing new regulatory frameworks to deal with the regulatory deficiencies that were exposed during the crisis. In particular, there is now a consensus that existing regulations in developed countries were not able to contain excessive risk-taking activities by financial institutions in this group of countries during the pre-crisis period. Among these regulations, the newly proposed set of reform measures developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS): "Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems" (2011) is perhaps the one that has attracted most attention worldwide because a central focus of the recommendations lies on important changes in banks' regulatory capital requirements. Where does Latin America stand with respect to capital requirements? Can banks in the region satisfy with ease the new capital requirements of Basel III or will the implementation of this new set of capital recommendations require large efforts from banks in the region? This paper deals with these questions for the case of four Andean countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
More than Revenue: Main Challenges for Taxation in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Ter-Minassian Teresa
Published: March 2024

This paper aims to provide an overview of the current state of taxation in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, and its main reform needs and options. It previews the findings of recent studies prepared or commissioned by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for its forthcoming flagship publication More than Revenue: Taxation as a Development Tool in the -Development in the Americas- series. Reflecting fiscal consolidation imperatives, the main objective of fiscal policies in the region in recent decades has been revenue mobilization, often at the expense of efficiency and equity objectives. This paper analyzes the region's taxation in regard to revenue adequacy, efficiency, vertical and horizontal equity, ease of administration and compliance, and degree of fiscal decentralization, concluding that there is significant scope for reforms that would result in simultaneous improvement on several of these fronts. Although the paper does not provide a specific blueprint for reforms, which would need to be designed on a country-by-country basis, it identifies directions for reform that are relevant for most of the region.
Spillovers of Global Shocks Over Caribbean Countries: So Large That There Is Little Room to Maneuver: An Impulse Response Analysis
Authors: Melgarejo Karl Alexander , Mercer-Blackman Valerie
Published: March 2024

Caribbean countries are many times described as "vulnerable" in that they are highly prone to shocks such as food price hikes, natural disasters, and other global phenomena. This policy brief discusses a particular type of "vulnerability", namely, the impact of the trading partner, output changes, and commodity price changes on their GDP growth. The analysis is based on a cointegration analysis that shows why much of the growth trend of these countries can be explained by one or two variables: a commodity price and trading-partner GDP. We also discuss how that effect unfolded during the recent global recession and what its consequent effect was on the fiscal accounts. In addition, we consider how output could change going forward if such a global shock were to reoccur.
Universal Public Health Insurance, Adult Status, and Labour Supply in Jamaica
Authors: Pecha Camilo , Beuermann Diether
Published: March 2024

This policy brief answers three main questions with respect to the no-user-fee policy adopted across public health centres in Jamaica: (i) Has the policy improved health status among working age adults? (ii) Has the policy influenced labour market dynamics? (iii) Has the policy had differential effects by age groups? Evidence suggests that the policy improved overall health status, as the likelihood of suffering illnesses associated with inability to carry out normal activities decreased by 28.6 percent. In addition, the number of days where people were unable to perform normal activities due to illnesses suffered within the previous four weeks decreased by 34 percent. Regarding labour market dynamics, no effects are found on the likelihood of being employed or contributing to the National Insurance Scheme. However, consistent with a reduced number of days lost due to illnesses, we find a positive effect of 2.15 additional weekly labour hours. Finally, we find that all of these positive effects are concentrated within adults in the 40-64 year-old age range. Overall, these effects suggest that the policy added a yearly average of US$PPP 26.6 million worth of net real production to the Jamaican economy during the period 2008-12.
Conditions for Success in Implementing CCT Programs: Lessons for Asia from Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Regalia Ferdinando , Stampini Marco , Paes-Sousa Romulo
Published: March 2024

Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs have become the main social assistance interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), reaching 129 million individuals in 18 countries in 2010. Programs shared key characteristics such as the payment of cash grants and the incorporation of co-responsibilities, but varied greatly in terms of coverage, infrastructure, routines, and even objectives. In this study, we analyze the experience of six countries (Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Peru) and attempt to identify important lessons for countries that have recently started or that are currently considering the introduction of a CCT. The methodology includes a review of scientific and technical literature, as well as interviews with key government and program personnel.
Thinking Outside the Box: Strategies and Examples for in the Preservation and Development of Heritage
Authors: Galvani Marina
Published: March 2024

This paper present examples of positive economic and social impacts of cultural projects and mentions an interpretation of the positive interaction between development and culture. Several best practices are explored for each single topic and guidelines for future IDB projects are suggested. This paper complement the document: Thinking Outside the Box: Arguments for IADB's Involvement in the Preservation and Development of Heritage in which were discussed topics related to the role of culture in development and the social impact of culture.
Tax Reform in Brazil: The Long Process in Progress
Authors: Varsano Ricardo
Published: March 2024

A tax reform process is now in course in Brazil. It started in 1995, when the President of the Republic presented to the National Congress a proposal to amend the chapter on the tax system of the Brazilian Federal Constitution (PEC 175/95). During the more than seven years of stop-and-go discussion, the process provided only two practical results: the so-called Kandir Law that modified the chief state tax ¿ on the circulation of merchandises and on communication and interstate and intermunicipal transportation services (ICMS) ¿, but which effects have been partially postponed by subsequent laws; and a recent law, which has mitigated the cascading of a social contribution. 1 Discussion of the constitutional amendment, which was interrupted in the first quarter of 2000, is expected to resume in 2003. This paper discusses the tax reform process in course.
Trade Agreement and Tax Incentives: The Irish Experience
Authors: Haughton Jonathan
Published: March 2024

Trade liberalization played an important role in the transformation of the Irish economy, starting in the early 1960s. Tax relief and industrial subsidies were also significant. This document explains why the Irish case is relevant for Latin America; summarize the main explanations for Ireland's recent economic success; provide a chronology of Irish trade policy; explain how the loss of tariff revenue was handled; outline the subsidies and tax measures used to encourage investment, particularly from overseas; and discuss the fiscal implications of this industrial policy and the changes in taxation that have been made over time in the search for an efficient and high-yield tax system.
The Impact of Tax Compliance Policies on Foreign Investment Decisions
Authors: McLees John
Published: March 2024

This document identifies tax compliance issues that have the potential to create significant barriers to foreign investment in Latin America and suggests some steps that local tax authorities and the international tax community can take.
Tax Incentives for FDI in Seven Latin American Countries
Authors: Byrne Peter D.
Published: March 2024

This paper compares the history of tax incentives in seven Latin American countries. It is an attempt to understand why countries enact tax incentive legislation; how countries measure the costs and benefits of such legislation; how such costs and benefits are viewed by the public; and what considerations have led to the repeal of such incentives. The information set forth below is the result of extensive interviews and correspondence with noted private and public sector tax experts in the countries reviewed. The information was collected over a two and one-half year period ending in September 2001.
Cross Country Comparisons of Public Employment and Pay of 26 Latin American and Caribbean Countries
Authors: Payne J. Mark , Carlson Ingrid
Published: March 2024

This paper compares public sector employment and pay in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It highlights the methodological challenges of gathering and making valid comparisons on the basis of such data. Within these limitations, therefore, the paper compares the countries of the region in respect to the size of the public sector, the magnitude of public sector wages, and trends in public employment and pay, and it examines some hypotheses regarding the determinants of public employment and pay and of effective, clean government.
A New Approach to Trade Development in Latin America
Authors: Lacunza Hernán , Redrado Martín
Published: March 2024

The present work is motivated by the desire to share with those in the political and academic arenas in Latin America my experience with a distinguished team of professionals. This included two years creating and implementing trade policy in Argentina, as well as several years devoted to research concerning the region¿s relations with the rest of the world and the creation of an export model that could serve as a source of growth for developing countries. This paper is an abridged version of my book, "Exportar para crecer" (Editorial Planeta, 2003). The management model created at the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Relations draws on both public and private intellectual contributions. Together, they led to an aggressive trade policy designed to open markets for Argentine products through trade negotiations. The policy attempted to transcend false antagonisms concerning the geographic destinations of our exports, focusing, moreover, on an indispensable complementary element: developing markets as a means of ensuring the effective use of opportunities created.
A New Push for Regional Infrastructure Development in South America
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This study was undertaken in response to a request from the government of Brazil that the Inter-American Development Bank support the analysis of infrastructure integration in South America at the level of the region¿s highest authorities. The request was made in light of the convening of the Meeting of South American Presidents in Brasilia on 31 August and 1 September 2000. The study newly reaffirms the IDB¿s commitment to the development of regional infrastructure as a key to the competitiveness of the South American countries, and to the consolidation of integration and cooperation processes in the region.
Beyond Chalk and Talk: Experimental Math and Science Education in Argentina
Authors: Cabrol Marcelo , Ibarrarán Pablo , Näslund-Hadley Emma
Published: March 2024

Primary-school students in Argentina score low in international assessments of learning, particularly in math and science. To help remedy this situation, the Inter-American Development Bank is supporting a pilot study to identify pedagogical models that will enhance learning.
Country Program Evaluation: Belize (2004-2008)
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This report (RE-349) presents an evaluation of the Bank's country program for Belize in the period 2004-2008. It is based on a review of documentary evidence provided by the Bank and other sources, as well as information gleaned from interviews with Bank staff in Headquarters and the Country Office, Government officials, local entrepreneurs and other persons during the missions of OVE to the country. The scope of this report is the IDB programming and operational cycle 2004-2008. The evaluation is organized in the following chapters: Chapter 1 offers an overview of the structure of the Belizean economy and of the developments taking place during the period 2004-2008. Chapter 2 describes and evaluates the programming intent for the country based on two evaluative criteria: relevance and coherence. Chapter 3 reviews the program output's delivery efficiency and the qualitative dimension of the Bank's portfolio. Chapter 4 examines the effectiveness of the Bank's operations in Belize.
Building Regional Management Training Programs in Latin America
Authors: McDermott Gerald A.
Published: March 2024

This paper analyzes MIF efforts to improve inadequate training institutions and emphasize the basic importance of updating management and worker skills in SMEs in Latin America. The paper is organized as follows: Section I analyzes the problems behind the failures of both market-based and bureaucratic approaches to provide services such as training for SMEs. A cursory look at existing evidence from the developing world and Latin America in particular shows that SMEs not only lack adequate training institutions, but also an understanding of the basic importance in updating management and worker skills. Due to massive market failures and a lack of institutional experience, innovative supply-side initiatives are critical to help SMEs break out of low-equilibrium traps. Section II then shifts attention to the six SME training projects. After a discussion of the general aims of the Program and the individual projects, the paper assesses the projects in terms of their abilities to fill their different niches. In conclusion, Section III summarizes the lessons learned thus far from these projects.
Financial Institutions and the Remittances Market in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Suki Lenora
Published: March 2024

The MIF made a partnership with the Earth Institute at Columbia University to jointly administer a permanent program on remittance studies in Latin America and the Caribbean. I'ts a three-year research and dissemination program to promote best practices in remittance transmission in Latin America, as well as to craft policy prescriptions for governments, the financial sector, aid organizations, and civil society
Government Procurement and Free Trade in the Americas
Authors: Claro de la Maza Jorge , Camblor Roberto
Published: March 2024

Governments in many countries -at all levels of development- struggle with increasing budget deficits and soaring national debts. Over the last century, government spending, as a percentage of gross domestic product has tended to increase and with it has increased the range of services offered by governments and the volume of public procurement resulting from it. The growth in public procurement has been accompanied by a growth in public procurement legislation. As the public sector grew, a need made itself to seek assistance form the private sector to provide public services on a contractual and sub-contractual basis. In various countries, especially those characterized by a civil law system, government contracts took on a peculiar nature, distinct from private contracts constituting a distinct legal category, separated form private contracts rules concerning contract formation, termination, settlement of disputes and other situations. As public procurement grew in volume and value, so did its importance to employment and the national economy. In most countries, the early procurement laws were protective of domestic industry. At the same time, competition for public business grew among nationals in step with the growth of public expenditure devoted to procurement of goods and services. These laws recognized the right of nationals to be treated equally, to have equal access to public contracts. As a result, the standard method of procurement would consist in an advertised opportunity for all interested firms to bid for public contracts on auction basis.
Making the Most of Family Remittances: Second Report of the Inter-American Dialogue Task Force on Remittances
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Analysis of the relationship between remittances and the local economies in Central America, with special attention to Nicaragua and Guatemala. It also provides some policy recommendations to leverage and mitigate the impact of remittances.
MERCOSUR Report No. 4 (1998)
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

In the first half of 1998, the impact of the Asian crisis on the level of economic activity in the four MERCOSUR countries was, in addition to being reasonably differentiated, much less severe than had been forecast at the end of 1997. However, the sub-regional gross domestic product (GDP), after registering 3.2% growth in 1996 and 4.7% growth in 1997, is expected to register much more modest growth this year, probably less than 3%.
Remittance Recipients In Ecuador: A Market Research Study
Authors:   Pew Hispanic Center,   Bendixen and Amandi,   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

Study on the characteristics of the remittance flow to Ecuador, the transfer of Remittances and the Banking System
Global Microscope on Microfinance Business Environment 2009
Authors:   Economist Intelligence Unit
Published: March 2024

This workbook displays the results of a dynamic, qualitative scoring model constructed from 13 indicators that measure specific attributes of the business environment for microfinance across 55 countries worldwide.
The Role of Geography and Size
Authors: Hummels David
Published: March 2024

This report focuses on issues for Latin America and the Caribbean from China's expanding presence in the world economy, with a particular interest in questions related to China's size and proximity to markets.The authors begin with a basic overview of facts, including a characterization of trade and trade growth for China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Next, the following issues are addressed: -Relative proximity of China and LAC countries to major markets.-Detailed data on shipping costs to address the size of the import wedge, the price of goods at the exporter's departure port telative to the importing destination and the size of the sourcing wedge and its determinants. -LAC's proximity to the US market. -Overview of literature discussing the importance of country size.
Initiatives Don't Sell Themselves: Lessons Learned from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Conversion Offer 2009-2010
Authors: Salazar Lina
Published: March 2024

Staff from five Bank departments (FIN, ITE, VPS, RMG and LEG) formed a core team that designed and executed the largest IDB conversion offer to date, and one of the largest liability management operations ever executed by emerging markets. The team learned that the design of an optional, cost neutral and scalable initiative needs to be accompanied by an effective outreach strategy and constant responsiveness to client's needs.
A Toolkit for e-Government: Issues, Impacts and Insights
Authors: Rath-Wilson John , Chhabra Samir , Dinsdale Geoff
Published: March 2024

This toolkit is designed to help Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) governments optimize their approach to e-government by framing the issues and identifying good practices, challenges, and lessons learned. The research for this project included a review of academic and business literature, as well as interviews with IDB officials, Canadian experts, and officials from three countries -Ecuador, Costa Rica and Chile- at different stages in the development of their e-government. It has been developed for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in support of the IDB Regional Policy Dialogue.
Empirical Information and the Development of Educational Policies in Latin America
Authors: Cueto Santiago
Published: March 2024

This paper discusses the links between empirical information and the development of educational policies in Latin America. The data presented in this paper comes from responses to a questionnaire sent to Vice Ministers of Education in six countries of the region: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The study's principal objectives were to describe what information was available and to understand how the information available in their countries proved useful in the design and evaluation of programs and policies. The results are presented with both statistics and qualitative analysis, and include formal evaluation mechanisms, achievement assessments on a national scale, and examples of policy development. This paper was prepared for the Hemispheric Meeting of the Regional Policy Dialogue held on November 7th and 8th, 2005 in Washington, DC.
Why does Latin America Grow More Slowly?
Authors: Blyde Juan S. , Fernández-Arias Eduardo
Published: March 2024

In order to analyze how satisfactory the growth process in Latin America has been over the past 40 years it is important to make relevant comparisons with other experiences. To tackle this issue, the authors focus on the per capita economic growth rate and its contributing factors, comparing the experience of the typical country in Latin America (LAC) with that of benchmark countries, namely a typical country of the rest of the world (ROW) and of its subsets of developed countries (DEV) and East Asian countries (EASIA). They provide some econometric evidence suggesting that the worse institutional quality of Latin America relative to rest of the world, and to a lesser extent, the lower degree of openness and the higher degree of macroeconomic instability, were important factors behind these differences in productivity growth. The rest of the paper includes a description of economic performance of Latin America during the last four decades and a comparison it with the experience of the benchmark countries, accounting exercises in order to examine the contributions of various factors to the differences in performance observed, an econometric model to explore the role of policy and institutional variables as drivers of these contributions, and a conclusion.
Belize Fiscal Study
Authors: Jenkins Glenn P. , Kuo Chun-Yan
Published: March 2024

This paper is a review of the fiscal system of Belize. The emphasis of the study is on the revenue system in terms of its design, administration and its effectiveness in revenue mobilization. Belize is facing a critical public sector deficit situation, but its revenue system, although somewhat unconventional, is performing remarkably well. This study has reviewed each of the components of the revenue system to determine what improvements could be made in order to both enhance the economic characteristics of each of the taxes as well as to increase its revenue raising effectiveness. A major challenge facing the fiscal system of Belize in the future will be the necessity to reduce its reliance on the use of import tariffs to collect tax revenues. This will be forced on it through its membership in Caricom and its bilateral and multilateral negotiations of other free trade arrangements. The following is a summary of the principal recommendations of this review along with an estimate of the revenue impact of the proposed changes.
Employability in the Southern Cone
Authors: Gasparini Leonardo , Haimovich Francisco , Winkler Hernán , Busso Matías
Published: March 2024

This document is aimed at discussing the concept of employability, characterizing the level, structure and trends of employment and unemployment in the Southern Cone, and suggesting policy directions to increase decent employment in the region. The paper is focused on the case of Argentina, with illustrations to the rest of the countries in the region: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. In order to analyze changes in employability in Argentina, the authors estimate a model that captures the relationship between capital accumulation, international trade and the labor market, while to explore employment dynamics, the authors exploit the rotating panel structure of the Argentina¿s household survey.
Promoting Investment in Information and Communications Technologies in the Caribbean
Authors: Stern Peter A.
Published: March 2024

This paper is based on the premise that investment in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has a positive impact on economic development because of its contribution to growth and labor productivity. Development of an information-based society and the realization of an ICT strategy and its incorporation into every day social and economic activity are, however, dependent on the availability and accessibility of physical infrastructure. The report reviews the basic infrastructure for ICT in the Caribbean and compares the current telecommunications policy and regulatory framework with that of the mid 1990s when governments in the region began earnestly to think about reform. At that time twelve of them participated in the World Trade Organization negotiations on basic telecommunications. The report also examines telecommunications pricing issues, the current free trade negotiations which impact the ICT sector and some noteworthy regional initiatives to promote ICT. Finally it discusses regulatory barriers to investment in the telecommunications sector and recommends a number of actions to overcome these.
Poverty Reduction and the IDB: An Evaluation of the Bank's Strategy and Efforts
Authors:   Inter American Development Bank
Published: March 2024

This report (RE-288) presents the evaluation conducted by the Office of Evaluation and Oversight of the poverty reduction efforts carried out by the IDB since the mid 1990's. Its purpose is to provide an account to the Bank's directors regarding the results achieved by the institution in terms of poverty reduction, and an input for reflection and lesson-learning regarding how to improve the effectiveness of its future poverty strategy. This report evaluates through a set of dimensions including: as a "strategy per se" (Chapter II); The 1997 strategy with respect to what the Bank has defined as what a strategy "should be" (Chapter III); The actions undertaken by the Bank in the field (Chapter IV); The delivery and efficiency of delivery of pro-poor projects (Chapter V); The evaluability of these projects (Chapter VI); The implicit model underlying the poverty strategy and the evolution of its key components during the nineties (Chapter VII).
Public Purchaser-Private Provider Contracting for Health Services: Examples from Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Savedoff William D. , Slack Katherine
Published: March 2024

The report presents examples to illustrate many of the key issues regarding health care contracting. This study discusses 27 examples of contracting with the private sector in Latin America and the Caribbean. The examples cover three types of services and target population: 11 are broadly-defined services for the entire population (e.g. outpatient services by private hospitals in Brazil); 8 are specific services for the entire population (e.g. high-tech services -heart surgery, kidney transplants, hip replacements, etc.- by private units in Uruguay); and 8 are specific services for a target population (e.g. a program to reduce child malnutrition in Honduras). In addition to its analysis of the cases, the study has generated a publicly available electronic database that can be corrected, updated, and expanded.
Secondary Schools and the Transition to Work in Latin America and the Caribbean
Authors: Wolff Laurence , Carnoy Martin , Castro Claudio de Moura
Published: March 2024

This paper provides an analysis of the organization of secondary schools in Latin America and the Caribbean. It deals with the confusing and controversial matters of providing schools for an increasingly heterogeneous clientele and the triple role of preparing students for higher education, forming solid citizens and offering training for those who will finish their schooling at this level. New models and options are presented for replacing existing organizational structures in secondary education. This paper is one of the reports prepared as background for the development of the Bank's strategy on primary and secondary education.
The Stubborn Trainers vs. The Neoliberal Economists: Will Training Survive the Battle?
Authors: Castro Claudio de Moura
Published: March 2024

This paper discusses problems with demand-driven training in Latin America. With the collapse of the supply-driven training model, a difficult adjustment was required to redeploy training program efforts to new markets and to the informal sector. This paper employs examples of Latin American governments responding to the demand of training institutions by radically changing their approach. Instead of trying to control institutions by administrative means, one of the changes they made was to implement more contract training systems. Lastly, the paper concludes with observations on what may happen to these institutional training programs in lieu of budget cuts.
Spatial Econometric Analysis and Project Evaluation: Modeling Land Use Change in the Darién
Authors: Harris Virginia , Nelson Gerald C. , Stone Steven
Published: March 2024

The Program for the Sustainable Development of Darién Province in Panama is a $70 million operation approved in 1998 and a major component of the program involves the resurfacing of the Pan American highway, which runs roughly north south through the province to a point about 70 kilometers from the Colombian border. The paper illustrates the use of spatial analysis techniques to predict the land use changes that would occur after the road is resurfaced and other project interventions completed. The predictions are based on a spatial econometric model relating categories of land use to geophysical and socioeconomic variables, including transportation costs and distance from markets. The results of this model are used to predict the spatially explicit effects of road resurfacing on economic activities. The methods explored in this paper offer a promising way to combine behavioral models of human activity with geographic information to realistically assess the prospective land use changes induced by development projects.
Facing the Challenge of Natural Disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean: An IDB Action Plan
Authors: Clarke Caroline , Mora-Castro Sergio , Collins Michael , Keipi Kari , Charvériat Céline
Published: March 2024

This report provides an overview of the current state of affairs regarding capacity to cope with natural disasters in the region, an analysis of what needs to be done, and a plan of action with specific measures that the Bank will put into practice in its operation. The Bank's comprehensive approach to disaster risk management will place top priority on preventing and mitigating natural disasters, while standing ready to assist countries in their reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts whenever disasters strike. This report identifies key strategic areas of action and proposes specific steps to implement them. In addition, the Bank is examining new financial instruments that can serve as vehicles for addressing these new priorities.