7962 research outputs found
Sort by
CIMA Brief #26: Gender and Learning: Understanding Skill Gaps in Primary Education
No full textThe gender-based achievement gap in mathematics tends to widen in favor of boys as students advance through their educational journey, evidenced by comparing data from 3rd and 6th grade in primary education. Conversely, the gender achievement gap favoring girls in language typically decreases between 3rd and 6th grade in most countries. While gender significantly explains the achievement gaps in mathematics, it does not consistently account for gaps in language and science
Stylized Facts on the Quality of Banking Regulation in Latin America and the Caribbean
Get PDFThis report presents findings from a comprehensive survey of 18 central banks and banking supervisor authorities in Latin America and the Caribbean, including major economies like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. The survey aimed to assess the adoption of the Basel III standards across the region and revealed significant diversity in regulatory capital frameworks. Notably, while 75 percent of respondent countries have adopted Basel III for some financial intermediaries, 44 percent still maintain hybrid systems allowing for Basel I or II standards. These results highlight the region\u27s varied approach to financial regulation, pointing to both progress in adopting international standards and the persistence of legacy regulatory regimes. The detailed findings and constructed indexes provide valuable insights into the state of financial regulation in the region, reflecting a landscape of both convergence and divergence in banking supervision practices
Inter-American Development Bank Sovereign-Guaranteed Lending: Historical Default & Loss Rates
No full textThis note summarizes the key IDB Sovereign-Guaranteed (SG) borrower defaults and loss rate statistics. The report shows how, since its incorporation, the performance of the Bank\u27s SG loan portfolio has been outstanding, with no loss on principal, interest, or fees, only the financial losses resulting from foregone return on late interest payments during eight non-accrual events (with only five borrowing countries). The loss rates for resolved SG borrower non-accrual events do not include the ongoing episode with Venezuela. The publication supports G20 CAF Review expectations for greater transparency and disaggregated data disclosure from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). The supporting information used in this report has been contributed to the Global Emerging Markets Risk Database Consortium (GEMs), pooling data from 25 multilateral development banks (MDBs) and development finance institutions to help demystify perceived risks of investments in emerging markets and increase confidence among investors
Assessing the Distributional Implications of Transition Policies
Get PDFPolicies to transition to a low-carbon economy in Latin America and the Caribbean will have important distributional impacts. This article aims to assess how these policies affect different economic sectors and socioeconomic groups and to provide policy recommendations for increasing equity and inclusion. Many of the negative impacts that may exacerbate existing inequalities can be reduced or avoided through policies that compensate citizens for higher prices and worse employment opportunities. Furthermore, well-designed transition policies that have inclusiveness as an explicit goal can promote equal access to the benefits of transition policies. Governments can also take this opportunity to broadly strengthen social protection measures to support workers during concurrent labor market disruptions from automation, artificial intelligence, or other sources
The Causal Effects of Expected Depreciations: Preliminary Findings
Get PDFWe estimate the causal effects of a shift in the future expected exchange rate of a local currency against the US dollar on a representative sample of firms in a small open economy. We survey a nationally representative sample of firms and provide the one-year-ahead nominal exchange rate forecast published by the local central bank to a random sub-sample of firm managers. This information treatment is effective in shifting exchange rate expectations and perceptions. These effects are persistent and larger for non-exporting firms. Linking survey responses with administrative census data, we estimate a positive elasticity of current import expenditures to a future expected depreciation. Our estimates highlight the intertemporal margin of trade to anticipated changes in trade costs
Social Determinants of Health: A Health-Centered Approach to Multi-Sectoral Action
Get PDFThe social determinants of health (SDH) are critical contextual factors, predominantly social, that directly and indirectly influence health outcomes by shaping individual behaviors and environmental health risks. SDH account for a significant portion of the burden of disease. Addressing these determinants through proven cost-effective interventions, such as reducing tobacco consumption, improving nutrition, and mitigating household air pollution, can prevent unnecessary illness and mortality. Moreover, tackling SDH enhances health equity, reduces the strain on healthcare systems, and accelerates progress toward Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. The paper highlights the importance of integrated, multisectoral strategies in addressing SDH, illustrating their effectiveness with examples from various domains, and underscores the need for further research to develop policies that simultaneously target multiple social and environmental factors
2023 Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks Climate Finance
Get PDFThis 13th edition of the Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks Climate Finance is an overview of climate finance committed in 2023 by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the New Development Bank (NDB) and the World Bank Group (WBG)
The Causal Effects of Expected Depreciations
Get PDFWe estimate the causal effects of a shift in the future expected exchange rate of a local currency against the US dollar on a representative sample of firms in a small open economy. We survey a nationally representative sample of firms and provide the one-year-ahead nominal exchange rate forecast published by the local central bank to a random sub-sample of firm managers. This information treatment is effective in shifting exchange rate expectations and perceptions. These effects are persistent and larger for non-exporting firms. Linking survey responses with administrative census data, we estimate a positive elasticity of current import expenditures to a future expected depreciation. Our estimates highlight the intertemporal margin of trade to anticipated changes in trade costs
How Effective are Active Labour Market Policies and Public Employment Services?: Lessons for Latin America and the Caribbean
Get PDFActive Labour Market Policies/Programmes (ALMPs) include a range of interventions such as training, employment incentives, and subsidized employment, with Public Employment Services (PES) being a central element. PES typically provide intermediation services for jobseekers and employers, disseminate labor market information, and coordinate other ALMPs like training programs. ALMPs differ from passive labor market measures, which involve unemployment benefits or cash transfers. In many countries, PES administer these benefits and combine them with active measures, particularly where passive programs are more generous. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), countries invest in ALMPs and PES, particularly focusing on youth training, but overall spending on active and passive measures remains below OECD averages. Empirical studies on ALMP effectiveness suggest that well-targeted and well-funded programs are more successful. PES services tend to show small but positive short-term impacts, while training programs often exhibit long-term benefits, such as increased employment formality in LAC. Other programs show variable results. The main question is not whether ALMPs work, but how they can be designed to address the needs of specific groups in different contexts. Evidence shows that aligning ALMPs with socio-economic conditions and including ongoing evaluation and adaptation are key to improving outcomes. Thus, a focus on program design, participant selection, and performance management is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of ALMPs across different labor market environment
Diversity and Representation Gaps in the Latin American and Caribbean School Workforce
Get PDFEqual representation of gender, race, and ethnicity in teaching and administrative staff has been shown to improve academic outcomes. Identifying gaps in this composition is therefore crucial to developing effective hiring policies and promoting greater diversity in the school workforce. This study accordingly investigates the demographic composition of teaching and administrative staff in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as their representativeness relative to the student and general population. Using data from more than five million teachers and principals, we analyze both gender (21 countries) and ethnic/racial (five countries) composition, considering variables such as school type, educational level, and subject taught.