The literature on aid effectiveness has focused more on recipient policies than the determinants of aid allocation yet a consistent result is that political allies obtain more aid from donors than non-allies. This paper shows that aid allocated to political allies is ineffective for growth,...

This paper models the impact on economic growth of HIV/AIDS when the epidemic is in a mature phase, in contrast with previous studies focused on periods of expansion, as in African countries. Simulations for Honduras, the epicenter of the epidemic in Central America, show that AIDS is not likely...

The Latin American and Caribbean region is highly exposed to natural disasters. The social and economic impact of these events has been historically very significant and it is showing an increasingly growing trend. During the first quarter of 2010, this unfortunate reality was evidenced with the...

El incremento en la productividad no ha sido un factor que haya contribuido de manera significativa al crecimiento de Costa Rica. En parte, ello se puede explicar por el magro desempeño que el país presenta en materia de innovación. En este texto se efetúa un diagnóstico de las principales...

This paper shows, first, that non-commodity revenues are more volatile in oil- and mineral-rich countries and that quality of institutions is associated with lower volatility. We investigate the channels through which oil and mineral revenue volatility lead to non-commodity revenues volatility,...

"The Emergence of China: Opportunities and Challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean provides a comprehensive overview of China's economic policy and performance over recent decades and contrasts them with the Latin American experience. What are the underlying factors behind China's...

Inequality between men and women in Latin America persists in everything from wages to health care, education, and access to credit. Based on studies for an IDB-sponsored forum in Guadalajara, Mexico, this book examines the respective roles of men and women in development. Prevailing social...

This document was prepared in the context of the Program for the "Improvement of Surveys and the Measurement of Living Conditions in Latin America and the Caribbean" (ISLC/MECOVI). Bolivia ranks among Latin America's so-called "early adjusters". While Bolivia's economic reforms, which began in...

This discussusion paper deciphers how poverty and income distribution were affected by economic shocks in the Latin American region. Empirical evidence suggests that macroeconomic shocks can result in substantial increases in inequality and poverty. Latin America has experienced two major crises...

This paper is part of the project "Explaining Economic Growth Performance" launched by the Global Development Network. The authors revisit the evidence on growth in Argentina, looking at aggregate data as well as national income data by sector. This paper's primary hypothesis is that government...