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Evidence In Labor Market Policies and Implications for Brazil: Job Search Assistance
Get PDFThis publication, produced in collaboration between JOI Brazil, a J-PAL LAC initiative, and the Inter-American Development Bank, analyzes the available evidence on job search assistance programs and discusses their implications for public policy formulation in Brazil. Difficulties in communicating skills, lack of information about the job market, behavioral biases, and geographic and financial limitations may constitute some of the challenges faced by workers in the job search process. In response to these barriers, various solutions have been proposed to make the job search process more efficient, reducing the time required for searching and improving the quality of matches between candidates and companies. However, assessments show mixed results from these programs, which do not always translate into lasting improvements in employment and income. These mixed effects underscore the need to evaluate which characteristics have been associated with better outcomes, in order to inform the design and enhancement of future interventions
Report Caribbean Connect: Building the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health
Get PDFFrom July 23-25th 2024, representatives from seven Caribbean countries and international partner organizations gathered in Kingston, Jamaica for Caribbean Connect: Building the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health. Hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the objective of the conference was to provide a platform for information sharing, learning, and strategic priority setting among Caribbean countries with active IDB operations related to digital health. Caribbean Connect also introduced participants to the vision for the Pan-American Highway for Digital Health (PH4H), an initiative led by the IDB and PAHO/WHO, and engaged countries to contribute to the initiative in advance of its formal launch in October 2024. Caribbean Connect advanced the participating countries visions for digital health by 2030 by creating a platform for sharing knowledge and building capacity among information technology and healthcare professionals, policymakers, and government leaders. These deliberations were centered around how to implement and leverage digital health solutions effectively. The conference aimed to foster a sense of sub-regional solidarity and cooperation, as countries shared their experiences, challenges, and solutions, paving the way for collaborative projects and initiatives that can have a broader impact in the Caribbean
Laptops in the Long-Run: Evidence from the One Laptop per Child Program in Rural Peru
Get PDFThis paper examines a large-scale randomized evaluation of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program in 531 rural primary schools, as implemented by the Peruvian government starting in 2009. We use administrative and survey data on academic achievement and grade progression through 2019 to estimate the long-run effects of educational technology on i) academic performance and grade progression in schools over time and ii) student trajectories as they progress from primary school to university. We find negative and significant effects on completing primary and secondary education on time but no effects on achievement. We find positive and significant impacts on students\u27 computer skills but no effects on broader cognitive skills. Information on teacher training and computer utilization suggests limited benefits of providing educational technology without sufficient pedagogical support
Amazonia Bioeconomy Country Profiles
Get PDFAs we continue the exploration of bioeconomy possibilities that began with the publication "Re-Imagining Bioeconomy for Amazonia", this report serves as an essential continuation, spotlighting the specific bioeconomy landscapes of each of the eight Amazonian countries. Building on the insights and frameworks discussed in the original publication, this document provides a focused analysis of the sector\u27s current state, main challenges and future potential in each country. The original study underscored the transformative power of bioeconomy in harmonizing economic growth with environmental stewardship. This countries profile takes that foundational work a step further by presenting a detailed examination of how countries are engaging with bioeconomy principles, adopting a territorial approach. In the pages that follow, we will explore national strategic initiatives and sectoral advancements within the bioeconomy, as well as local perceptions from private and public actors. Key findings will be presented, including the nation\u27s approach to leveraging its natural resources, such as its rich biodiversity, agricultural prowess, and innovative biotechnological developments. Each section will provide insights into how the country is capitalizing on these resources to drive sustainable economic growth while addressing cultural, environmental and social considerations
Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services Provided by Blue Economy Ecosystems in the Dominican Republic
Get PDFThe Dominican Republic possesses a diversity of coastal and marine ecosystems that play a crucial role in coastal protection, carbon capture, marine biodiversity conservation, and as sources of income through tourism and fishing. This study focuses on coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, and marshes, as these ecosystems provide economic opportunities within the framework of the "blue economy," fostering sustainable development that combats climate change. The economic value of these four ecosystems has been estimated by calculating the value of the goods and services they provide, to better inform decision-makers. Both market valuation techniques and non-market valuation techniques (contingent valuation) have been applied. The value of the Dominican blue economy ecosystems is estimated at $1,792 million annually, equivalent to 1.58% of the country\u27s GDP
The Migrant Penalty in Latin America: Experimental Evidence from Job Recruiters
Get PDFWe conducted an artifactual field experiment with human resource recruiters in Ecuador to investigate the extent to which migrants are penalized in the labor market. Human resource recruiters were hired to evaluate pairs of job candidates competing for jobs. The candidate profiles were observationally equivalent, except that one was randomly assigned to be a Venezuelan migrant. Recruiters assessed job fitness, proposed wages for each candidate, and made hiring recommendations. We find robust evidence of a penalty against migrants across all dimensions. Venezuelans are penalized despite being from a population who shares cultural, historical, and linguistic characteristics with natives and has, on average, higher levels of education. We do not find evidence that recruiters demographic characteristics, experience, cognitive scores, or personality traits correlate with a preference for natives. Instead, there is suggestive evidence that jobs requiring a greater degree of local knowledge or public interface carry a higher migrant penalty
How Much Should We Trust Non-Probabilistic Web-based Surveys on LGBTI People? Evidence from Mexico (Technical Note)
No full textAlthough many web-based non-probabilistic surveys are the only source of data on gender and sexual diversity in many countries, there is little evidence of their accuracy in characterizing LGBTI people. This paper studies how precisely the experiences of LGBTI people are captured by web-based non-probabilistic surveys. We compare several statistics about LGBTI people obtained from a web-based non-probabilistic survey with over 14,000 respondents to statistics derived from a large-scale, nationally representative survey with more than 44,000 respondents that was specifically designed to characterize this population. We find important differences in the relative sizes of the subgroups that are part of the LGBTI population and in their characteristics. Our results illustrate how the self-selection inherent in non-probabilistic web-based surveys can result in a characterization of LGBTI people that assigns them higher educational attainment and better labor market outcomes than the probabilistic benchmark while, at the same time, significantly overstating life dissatisfaction, mental health issues, and the prevalence of self-reported experiences of bullying and harassment. These results suggest that while we can learn something about the direction of the gaps between LGBTI people and the general population on self-reported indicators, researchers and policymakers need to be careful in interpreting the levels of such gaps
Competition and Distance to the Technological Frontier as Determinants of Innovation: A Multilevel Analysis for Latin America
Get PDFUsing a multilevel analysis and the new Harmonized Latin American Innovation Surveys Database (or LAIS database) augmented with indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau\u27s Survey of Business Owners (SBO) and the World Banks World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS), this paper presents estimates of the effects of import competition and distance to the technological frontier on firm innovation in Latin American countries. Although innovation is recognized as a multilevel phenomenon, with investment decisions not solely affected by the firm characteristics but also by the context in which each firm is embedded, the empirical literature adopting a multilevel design is still nascent and scarce. Using a two-level random slope model allows us to overcome some of the pitfalls of traditional regression models when dealing with the hierarchical structure of data while allowing us to capture the influence of contextual factors. The results suggest that the fostering effect of foreign competition depends on the firms distance to the technological frontier. The estimates suggest that the lower the foreign competition and the greater the productivity gap, the lower the probability of firms engaging in innovation. In contrast, when a firm operates in a sector that is relatively closer to the technological frontier, firms invest in innovative activities to remain at the top. These results offer a clear and useful guide for designing policies in Latin America regarding innovation among firms. While it is important to promote and stimulate innovation efforts by firms, these factors should not be overlooked as considerations: sectoral characteristics associated with the economies, sectoral openness to foreign competition, and firms distance to the technological frontier
Sustaining Compliance with Fiscal Rules: A Future at Risk?
Get PDFFiscal rules in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries rarely have fixed objectives, exhibiting significant heterogeneity in design and implementation. This document analyzes how different factors influence the ease or difficulty of compliance with these rules and introduces an update of the Compliance dataset, highlighting new trends. The updated dataset shows that fiscal rule compliance in the region is sensitive to economic conditions, with a notable peak in 2022 due to favorable circumstances. However, the seemingly high compliance in 2022 was largely driven by favorable conditions, masking underlying vulnerabilities, as evidenced by the decline in 2023 and the emerging risks of non-compliance in 2024. This pattern suggests that compliance can sometimes misrepresent both short-term and long-term fiscal health. The analysis underscores the need to rethink fiscal rule frameworks to ensure long-term discipline and coherence with fiscal commitments. A new classification of rules in LAC can help understand compliance dynamics, close the gap between short- and long-term fiscal objectives, and identify specific characteristics to improve. This document emphasizes the necessity for targeted reforms to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of fiscal frameworks in the LAC region
Credit Rationing: The Relative Importance of Internal and External Factors
Get PDFBoth internal and external factors can contribute to the informational frictions that drive credit rationing among firms. This study uses data from enterprise surveys and other sources to evaluate the relative contribution of internal and external variables in determining the likelihood of credit rationing. The results indicate that external factors are more important than internal ones in their association with the marginal probability of experiencing credit rationing. From these key results, we derive two policy recommendations. First, policy interventions promoting reforms to reduce inflation, decrease informality, improve firm transparency, and make judicial processes more effective are likely to reduce credit rationing. Second, while credit support programs are likely to be effective in reducing credit rationing, it is advisable to design such programs with mechanisms aimed at improving formalization and transparency