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The Transmission of International Monetary Policy Shocks to Firms’ Expectations
Get PDFMotivated by the dominant role of the US dollar, we explore how monetary policy (MP) shocks in the United States can affect a small open economy through the expectation channel. We combine data from a panel survey of firms\u27 expectations in Uruguay with granular information about firms\u27 debt position. We show that a contractionary MP shock in the United States reduces firms\u27 inflation and cost expectations in Uruguay. This result contrasts with the effect of this shock on the Uruguayan economy. We study mechanisms related to how firms and managers experience in different monetary policy regimes can explain the results and discuss their implications
Social Pensions and Intimate Partner Violence against Older Women
Get PDFThe prevalence and determinants of intimate partner violence (IPV) among older women are severely understudied. This paper documents that the incidence of IPV remains high at old ages and provides the first evidence of the impact of access to income on IPV for older women. We leverage a Mexican reform that lowered the eligibility age for a non-contributory pension and a difference-in-differences approach. Women\u27s eligibility for the pension increases their probability of being subjected to economic, psychological, and physical IPV. The estimated effects are found only among women in the short-term and are more pronounced for women who experienced family violence in childhood and those from poorer households. In contrast, we show that IPV does not increase when men become eligible for the non-contributory pension. Looking at potential mechanisms, we find suggestive evidence that men use violence as a tool to control women\u27s resources. Additionally, women reduce paid employment after becoming eligible for the pension, which may result in more time spent at home and greater exposure to violent partners
Health impact assessment
Get PDFThis guide describes how to conduct a Health Impact Assessment (HIA), its process for identifying environmental and social risks and impacts, as well as the optimal way to systematically identify, assess, and manage community health impacts related to IDB-financed infrastructure projects
Infrastructure and Poverty Reduction: Innovative Policies for Effective Access
Get PDFInfrastructure services - transport, energy, water and sanitation, and digital infrastructure - are central to the fight against global poverty. Yet, their ability to improve lives hinges on effective access, driven by three crucial factors: the availability, quality, and affordability of these services. Countries should set explicit targets that capture these three dimensions and adopt policies addressing both supply and demand aspects. On the supply side, key policy objectives include increasing investment and reducing lifecycle costs through more efficient provision and maintenance. On the demand side, well-designed subsidies can protect vulnerable groups access without undermining fiscal sustainability or sector efficiency. Finally, technology can be useful both on the supply side, by reducing the cost of providing services, and on the demand side, by helping manage demand and ensuring that lower pricing appropriately targets those in need. This report illustrates this framework with numerous case studies and examples
Tokenization and Development: Framework and Insights Deck
Get PDFThis research deck aims to map the landscape of tokenization for development, highlight its impact, and propose a way forward by: - Providing an overview of the current state of tokenization, key trends, opportunities, and challenges. - Showcasing best practices and use cases of tokenization to support development. - Offering a way forward and call to action to further develop the use of tokenization for development
Research Insights: Do Water Expenditures Exacerbate Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Get PDFLatin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have made impressive economic, social, and environmental progress, however significant disparities remain. While advancements have been made in the water and sanitation sector, lower-income households still face challenges such as limited access, poor service quality, and a disproportionately high share of their income spent on water. These issues may further exacerbate inequalities in the region. So, this paper aims to examine the role of water expenditures in contributing to inequality in LAC countries. Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing more equitable water policies and enhancing the well-being of lower-income households in the region
Socioeconomic Disparities in Latin America among Same-Sex and Different-Sex Couples
Get PDFEconomic research on sexual minority individuals in low- and middle-income countries is limited due to the lack of representative data including information on sexual orientation. This paper uses census data from eight Latin American countries to explore socioeconomic disparities between same-sex and different-sex couples. Individuals in same-sex couples tend to be younger, less likely to identify as Indigenous, more educated, and less likely to live with children. Unemployment and income gaps vary by country. Individuals in same-sex couples have higher individual incomes in Brazil, while in Mexico women in same-sex couples earn more than they do in different-sex couples, but the opposite is true for men. Homeownership rates are lower among same-sex couples than among different-sex couples. Finally, asset-based welfare measures show mixed results: same-sex couples are overrepresented at the lower end of the distribution in some countries, while in others, they appear less frequently at the lower end
Creation of Rural Agrifood Initiatives. Phase II
Get PDFThis infographic presents the impact evaluation of the direct and indirect (spillover) effects of the second phase of the CRIAR program in Bolivia. The program aims to promote the adoption of agricultural technologies to increase agricultural productivity, income, and food security for smallholder farmers through financial incentives and technical assistance
Care Dependence and Hospitalizations: Evidence from the Mexican Health and Aging Study
Get PDFWe study the effect of care dependence on hospitalizations among older persons in Mexico, analyzing data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) from 2001 to 2021. We use fixed-effects logistic regression to estimate the likelihood of hospitalization during the last year (yes/no) and high-dimensional fixed-effects models to assess its duration (number of nights at the hospital). Our analysis reveals that difficulties with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and/or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) increase both the risk and the duration of hospitalizations. Key findings include a significant increase in the likelihood of hospitalization, by: 47.9% for individuals with 1-2 ADL impairments (relative to persons without impairments); 75.4% for individuals with 3 or more ADL impairments; 40.6% for individuals with 1-2 IADL impairments; 49.8% for individuals with 3 or more IADL impairments. We also find evidence of a significant effect on the duration of the hospitalization (conditional on being hospitalized), that increase by 13.4% for persons with 1-2 ADL impairments, and 22.7% for individuals with 3 or more ADL impairments. These results underscore the necessity for targeted interventions that reduce both the frequency and duration of hospitalizations among older persons with care needs, for example through greater integration between healthcare and long-term care services
IDB Environmental and Social Grievance Protocol: 2024 Annual Report
No full textOn November 2021, when the Environmental and Social Policy Framework entered into effect, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) developed a direct management-level channel for stakeholders to submit grievances regarding the environmental and social performance of IDB-financed projects. The IDB Grievance Protocol is part of the IDB Groups broader grievance system, which includes project-level grievance mechanisms as the first line of attention, followed by IDB Group management-led grievance mechanisms, and, as a last resort mechanism, the Independent Consultation and Investigation Mechanism (MICI). In 2024, the IDB marked the third year of implementation of the Grievance Protocol, receiving 75 grievances, of which 58 were applicable under the Protocols criteriaa 138% increase compared to 2023. Most grievances originated from Brazil and Peru, mostly concentrated in the transport, water and sanitation, and urban development sectors. Labor and working conditions became the most frequent category, followed by involuntary resettlement, community health and safety, and biodiversity impacts. This annual report provides an overview of key issues, comparative data across three years of implementation, lessons learned, outreach efforts, and next steps. For the first time, it also features a case study from Brazil, illustrating how the Protocol addressed a grievance related to resettlement compensation and economic displacement, while also fostering systemic improvements in how resettled persons are supported