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Streaking to Success: The Effects of Highlighting Streaks on Student Effort and Achievement
No full textWe examine whether highlighting streaks encourages 4th to 6th grade students in Peru to increase their use of an online math platform and improve learning. Sixty thousand students were randomly assigned to receive messages that i) highlighted streaks, ii) provided personalized reminders with positive reinforcement, or iii) provided generic reminders, while others were assigned to a control group. Highlighting streaks and providing personalized reminders significantly increased platform use compared to generic reminders and the control group, with streaks more effective on the intensive margin and personalized reminders more effective on the extensive margin. Highlighting streaks also significantly improved math achievement compared to the control group
Trends in International Economics Relations of Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic: Trade, Tourism, Toreign Direct Investment, and International Cooperation
No full textThis paper analyses the evolution of the international economic relations of the countries in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (CAPADR), in the areas of international trade, tourism, foreign direct investment (FDI) and international cooperation. It also discusses the impact of the post-pandemic context, the reconfiguration of global supply chains, and global geopolitics on these relations. In recent years, (i) the United States (US) has remained the regions main trading partner in goods and services, FDI and foreign aid for CAPADR; (ii) CAPADR countries and the rest of Latin America have become the second largest economic partners in these areas, which highlights their growing economic and political integration with the rest of the region; (iii) there has been an increase in the participation of the Asian bloc of countries, particularly in terms of FDI from China in countries with diplomatic and strategic ties, although its participation is still limited in relation to other blocs; and (iv) the positioning of the European bloc in CAPADR remains limited and stable over time but stands out in the area of foreign aid, especially regarding issues of sustainable development and the environment. However, there is heterogeneity between countries in each of the aspects under study
Green or Growth? Understanding the Relationship between Economic Growth and CO2 Emissions
Get PDFThe relationship between economic growth and environmental impact is a topic that has largely been studied through the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), which posits an inverted U-shape relationship between the two. We examine this link by analyzing GDP and CO2 emissions per capita from 1970 to 2020 using a panel of 136 countries. We estimate both the short- and long-run income elasticities of CO2 emissions across various regions and for rolling time periods. The analysis focuses on Latin America and the Caribbean, aggregating and disaggregating data by region and introducing alternative measures of CO2 emissions. Though our findings confirm the existence of the EKC at the global level, we do not find evidence of it for all regions. A monotonic positive relationship between income and emissions is observed for Latin America and the Caribbean. We also find that, in most cases, the income elasticity of production-based emissions is lower than that of consumption-based emissions. This distinction is particularly pronounced in the Latin American and Caribbean region, where the income elasticity of consumption-based emissions is estimated at 0.95, as opposed to 0.56 when using a production-based measure
Climate Finance Strategies: Analysis of International Experiences
Get PDFCountries use climate finance strategies to assess fiscal needs and guide public and private finances to achieve mitigation goals and meet adaptation challenges. They make it possible to identify the barriers to financing for these purposes and mechanisms to overcome them, such as counter incentives, insufficient regulation, lack of concrete investment objectives, misalignment of visions, and information asymmetries with respect to the classification of sustainable activities. In recent years, there has been an increase in the development of these strategies, and 75 percent of Latin American and Caribbean countries already have or are developing one. During the first half of 2023, the Regional Climate Change Platform of Ministries of Economy and Finance analyzed cases from 16 countries within and outside the region to identify best practices in the design and implementation of these strategies. This document provides information, policy recommendations, and lessons learned in the region to help improve their effectiveness going forward
Trade Trends Estimates Latin America and The Caribbean - 2024 Edition: Q1 Update
No full textThis report provides estimates of Latin America and the Caribbeans international trade flows for 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. The data in it was prepared by the Integration and Trade Sector (INT) at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in partnership with its Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL)
Irrational Bunching? Tax Regimes, Brackets, and Taxpayer Behaviors
Get PDFIn this study, we examine the behavior of self-employed taxpayers who “bunch" at an income level just below a critical threshold, which triggers a transition from a simple tax regime to a more complex one. Under the simple regime, individuals complete their tax forms independently, while the complex regime mandates the use of a public accountant for maintaining accounting records. Utilizing data from the Ecuadorian tax authority from 2011 to 2014, we initially observed and documented the bunching behavior prompted by the shift between regimes. Subsequently, we assess the impact of this regime transition on the amount of taxes paid by those self-employed taxpayers who choose to fill taxes in the complex regime. Our methodology employs both parametric and semi-parametric “donut” estimators to evaluate these effects. We find that the regime shift indeed prompts taxpayers to bunch below the income threshold, opting to remain within the simpler regime. Interestingly, those who transition into the complex regime tend to pay less in taxes. This pattern holds across various bunching windows and is consistent across several estimators used. Our results suggest that accountants are the key mechanism behind the effects, for they help taxpayers better navigate tax deductions and benefits, leading individuals to pay zero taxes
Leveraging Data to Improve Tax Compliance for Micro and Small Firms: Evidence from Brazil
Get PDFA large body of research has estimated the effects on tax collection of informing taxpayers of their obligations. This paper examines the effects on voluntary tax payments of providing taxpayers with information on their obligations that is collected through massive information cross-checking rather than traditional auditing. This information is inexpensive to collect, but may not be sufficiently accurate to promote taxpayer compliance. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of self-regularization interventions on tax compliance among simplified tax regime firms. We examine the treatments that use this information in three different ways: messaging, providing tax compliance manuals, and assisted regularization, in which tax auditors assist taxpayers in the self-regularization process. We find that assisted regularization increased the reported monthly income by 20 percent (US$1,160), which also nearly closed the tax evasion gap and reduced inconsistencies in tax declarations by 67 percent (37-point reduction). The manual and message interventions had positive, albeit smaller, effects. While the assisted regularization intervention had the largest effects, a cost-effectiveness analysis reveals that this intervention is not optimal for smaller firms because of the costs incurred by the tax authority. No effects were observed on firms\u27 tax compliance in declarations filed in the post- intervention periods
Climate Resilient Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Governance and Performance Indicators
Get PDFThe Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) developed the Climate Resilient Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Governance and Performance Indicators during 2018 and conducted a pilot study in Belize in early 2019. The indicator was developed as a diagnostic tool for countries in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region to assess whether they have the governance conditions, institutions, practices, and monitoring framework in place and adequate information available to sustainably manage their coastal zones in light of a changing climate This technical note is the result of a case study in the Bahamas using this study methodology
Characterizing the Afro-Brazilian Digital Inclusion Gap and Assessing Investment Opportunities
Get PDFThis study assesses the extent of digital inclusion among Afro-Brazilian populations and businesses, and the market opportunity that improved digital inclusion represents. It aims to understand how investments in digital infrastructure, business transformation, and skills can effectively reduce the digital divide and empower Afro-Brazilians, thereby contributing to broader socio-economic development. To do so, the study examines the current status of digital inclusion among Afro-Brazilian individuals and businesses, the current state of the telecommunications infrastructure, and the state of digital literacy and labor market requirements for digital skills
Caregivers for Older People: Overburdened and Underpaid: Evidence from an Inter-American Development Bank Survey in Latin America and the Caribbean. Version 1: june 2024
No full textHuman resources are essential to ensure the quality of long-term care. Yet, there are many things we do not know about the wellbeing, the working conditions, and the training of the caregivers for older people. Our work aims to fill some of the existing knowledge gaps by analyzing new data on the conditions of paid and unpaid caregivers in Latin America and the Caribbean. The new data is generated by a continuous self-administered online survey created by the Inter-American Development Bank, implemented since November 2023 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish in 25 countries. The results highlight the vulnerability of both paid and unpaid caregivers. Paid caregivers typically earn the minimum wage or less. A notable percentage reports episodes of verbal (39%) or physical abuse (14%). Three in ten received no training. Unpaid caregivers are not better off. 31% report feelings of depression and 44% say they had to stop working to provide care for their relatives. Only one in five had any formal training. Given that most long-term carers are women, these results have important implication for gender equality. The findings underscore the pressing need for policies to develop skills and improve working conditions and wellbeing of caregivers, which is further exacerbated by rapid population aging in the region. By shedding light on these critical issues, this work is relevant for the design and implementation of care policies that improve the wellbeing of both older persons and their caregivers